Finding enough money for maintenance tasks is a constant struggle in most Sectional Title (ST) schemes, even if they do have a sizeable reserve fund, but no matter how stretched the budget is, the body corporate cannot transfer responsibility for …

According to the most recent General Household Survey released by StatsSA, about a quarter of the 16,7m households in SA rent their accommodation. A large number of these are renting in the informal sector, where there is rarely any kind …

An increasing percentage of home sales in SA are in sectional title (ST) schemes, and buyers of these properties need to be aware that they don’t have the same freedom with regard to additions and alterations as those who buy …

The Property Practitioners Act now just needs the President’s signature to come into effect, and when it does it will bring about many significant changes in South Africa’s property sector. It will not only replace the Estate Agents Act which …

Sectional Title schemes and other community housing developments should be taking steps as fast as they can now to ensure that residents have access to electricity and water supplies in the coming months. These steps could include the installation of …

Smart homes are the way of the future and already everyone wants a faster internet connection for their phones, laptops and TVs – but obtaining that connection is unfortunately not always a speedy process when you move to a new …

In a move that it hopes will increase the number of trained Sectional Title portfolio managers in South Africa (SA), national property management company Trafalgar has launched its own academy. This will offer an intensive six-month training course for graduates …

There are thousands of sectional title complexes and gated estates in South Africa – and the huge majority have ongoing problems with owners not paying their levies at various times and for various reasons. “This suggests that there is a …

Property investors who are still paying off a bond on a rental property will usually also be paying a monthly or annual premium for home owner’s insurance (HOC) which provides cover against damages to the structure that could be caused …

Sectional Title (ST) owners need a better understanding of how ownership of the common property works and what they can and cannot do with it. So says Andrew Schaefer, MD of national property management company Trafalgar, who notes: “We find …