Community scheme living can be challenging as it often involves people from diverse backgrounds and with different personal preferences. Issues that become a point of contention involve noise disturbance, the keeping of pets, parking problems and refuse disposal, to name only a few. Know the rules The Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act (STSMA) has prescribed rules know as conduct rules which schemes...

Short term letting is a controversial topic in sectional title for various reasons, one of which involving the uncertainty as to what is allowed and what is not. Body corporate trustees have been at loggerheads with owners, trying to get decisive rulings via the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) to solve their disputes. Regrettably, the CSOS adjudications have varied widely in...

One of the many reasons a sectional title complex or estate is so attractive to property owners is the sense of security it provides. What happens when your apartment or house is broken into, who is responsible for your loss? Is it the body corporate, the estate manager, the security company or the managing agent? Responsibility to secure In a sectional title scheme, the owner is...

One of the most confusing terms in sectional title is exclusive use areas (EUAs). Owners with exclusive use rights are often the first who find themselves unfamiliar with their obligations regarding EUAs. Types of exclusive use areas EUAs can be defined as areas that are part of the common property of a scheme for the exclusive use of certain owners. An owner enjoying exclusive rights to an...

Sectional title terminology can be quite confusing and two terms that often get confused by owners are ‘section’ and ‘unit’. While an apartment can be called either of these two terms, there are distinct differences between a section and a unit. Section A section is indicated on the sectional title plan of the scheme; it is demarcated with a solid line...