The purpose of rules in a community scheme is to provide guidance on how residents, who share common facilities, must conduct themselves. Naturally, it is imperative that the rules are enforced in order to make them effective. Before we look at how to enforce rules, let’s first distinguish between the types of sectional title rules. Types of rules Sectional title schemes have management...

When the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act no 8 of 2011 was promulgated in October 2016, many trustees and owners in sectional title schemes were under the impression that special levies were now a thing of the past. What lead to this impression was the obligatory requirement for a maintenance, repair and replacement plan (MRRP), compelling schemes to save for...

Buying property in a community scheme remains a popular choice for many buyers whether they are first-time buyers or established buyers. Community schemes come in various shapes and sizes, and includes security estates, sectional title complexes, retirement developments and housing estates. Why are certain developments more suited to security estates or sectional title schemes? A developer may be motivated to develop a...

Changes to the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act 8 of 2011 (STSMA) on 7 October 2016 made fidelity insurance compulsory for bodies corporate. This means that the body corporate must insure itself against the potential loss of its funds by way of fraudulent or dishonest conduct by the trustees, managing agent or anybody who has access to these funds. Before the...

Each new year presents its own challenges for a body corporate. Body corporate planning allows unresolved matters from the previous year to be attended to and for all the role players to reset for the year ahead. What pro-active planning can be done? Every year body corporate trustees must ensure that they deal with legislative requirements that make their scheme compliant. The trustees,...