It is essential to understand that a developer constructs a new sectional title scheme to make as much profit as possible. Developments in low-income areas will inherently result in different materials compared to high-income areas to suit the different target markets. A buyer in the upmarket Sandton area will insist on a higher, more
When Sectional Titles first came into being, the norm was to convert existing buildings from single ownership to sectional title ownership. This was done to give an opportunity to those who wanted to buy their own home but could not afford it or did not need a full title property. The concept was ground-breaking
By Mike Spencer, MD, Platinum Global The Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act (STSMA) replaced the original Sectional Title Act some time ago. It essentially splits the registration of schemes from the management of Sectional Title schemes. In itself, this was not a bad idea, but the new Act is far from being practical. It
Common property is anything that is not a section. A section is what an owner takes transfer of when they buy a sectional title unit. It is shown on the sectional title plans. A unit is the section plus its portion of the common property (based on the participation quota (PQ). So, common property
An AGM is an Annual General Meeting that is held once a year. It is a meeting to which all owners are invited and at which they need to make certain decisions. A body corporate is run by all its owners, who then chose a number of people to represent them on a day-to-day
Sectional Title Series A series of articles to help everyone understand in practical terms what Sectional Title is about. WHAT IS AN EXCLUSIVE USE AREA? It is actually just what it says. An area of the common property that is set aside for the exclusive use of one owner of a unit in a
Up until a few weeks ago I was blissfully unaware of the meaning of the term ‘Gaslighter’. This state is quite contrary to the norm actually, as I feel that I am mostly au fait with the English language. When, by chance, I came across the word in an overseas article, I felt momentarily
The latest on the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPI Act) It seems that in the last few years Sectional Title owners have been hit left, right and centre with new legislation and directives. Trustees have been promoted to “scheme executives” in the Community Schemes Ombud Service Act, and are now
Having recently sold their beautiful spacious home in a leafy, quiet suburb, North of Johannesburg, Lennard Cohen and his wife Lisa are settling into their smaller, but comfortable townhouse rather close to their old home. If truth be told, they were forced to scale down by their children, who of late had become downright
