Paddocks Press – October 2019
The October 2019 edition of Paddocks Press is now available.
Box smart at the CSOS
One of the most important reasons for the establishment of the CSOS is to provide a cost effective dispute resolution mechanism to community schemes. Although there have been a number of reported “growing pains” related to this relatively young platform, we believe that it is proving to be useful. While there may be a long…
Requirements for a proxy appointment
It is often hard to get sectional owners to attend meetings and for the body corporate to get a quorum of owners present or represented. The normal quorum requirement is one third of all owners’ voting values, but it is not unusual for general meetings to be automatically adjourned for a week because there is…
Q&A – 2019 10
By the Paddocks Club team Below are examples of two questions on the Paddocks Club discussion forum, to show you what is available to our Community members! Adult son of tenant visiting, sleeping in vehicle on common property: What to do? Member’s question: Good day Paddock Team, What is the right of the body corporate…
Paddocks Press – September 2019
The September 2019 edition of Paddocks Press is now available.
Parking. Parking. Parking.
The first lesson of economics is scarcity, there is never enough of anything to fully satisfy all those who want it, which is why one of the most valuable additions to any property is secure, and preferably covered, off street parking. Unfortunately, many sectional title schemes lack the necessary space required to fully satisfy all…
What can owners do when body corporate trustees go rogue?
Sectional owners frequently complain that trustees spend scheme money on expenses that are not covered by the body corporate’s approved budgets, sometimes on unnecessary expenses, or that they spend more than the budgeted amounts. What can owners do when this happens? The law requires that trustees must spend the body corporate’s money in accordance with…
Q&A – 2019 09
By the Paddocks Club team Below are examples of two questions on the Paddocks Club discussion forum, to show you what is available to our Community members! Can trustees use funds specifically collected for painting on other expenses? Member’s question: Good day Paddock Team, We manage a body corporate who collected a special levy for…
Paddocks Press – August 2019
The August 2019 edition of Paddocks Press is now available.
Two wrongs don’t make a right
One of the most frustrating tasks some trustees and managing agents have to tackle, is the situation where the body corporate finds itself in financial difficulty as a direct result of some of its members failing, and/or refusing to pay their contributions (commonly referred to as “levies’). It is from this place of frustration that…
CSOS and your scheme’s rules
This article will focus on the role played by the Community Schemes Ombud Service (“the Service”) in regulating, monitoring and controlling community scheme governance documentation. In terms of section 4(1)(c) of the CSOS Act, one of the functions that the Service must fulfill is to regulate, monitor and control the quality of all sectional titles…
Q&A – 2019 08
By the Paddocks Club team Below are examples of two questions on the Paddocks Club discussion forum, to show you what is available to our Community members! Who must open a new scheme’s administration fund account? Member’s question: Good day Paddock Team, With the establishment of a new sectional title scheme, who opens the administrative…
Paddocks Press – July 2019
The July 2019 edition of Paddocks Press is now available.
Build a Braai – consider this before you give your neighbour the green light.
As South Africans we are incredibly passionate about our braais. It is evident in our social calendars, our meal planning, and certainly our homes. When selling a home these days a braai is advertised with as much enthusiasm as an en-suite bathroom or double garage and has certainly overtaken pools as the “must-have” item in…
Sectional title final warning for noise: What should you do?
So you live in a sectional title unit, and suddenly you get a message from the managing agent or trustees saying your family is making too much noise. The message is headed “Final Warning” and says you have broken the scheme’s rules. If it happens again, you will be fined. The complaint may relate to…