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!

Installation of air conditioner on outside wall

Member’s question:

Good day Paddocks,

If an owner wants to install an air conditioner on the outside of their unit (common property), what sort of approval or compliance would need to be obtained and followed?

Thank you

Graham’s answer:

Dear member,

If the trustees feel that the unit will not be unsightly, and are happy that other owners will be able to do the same thing, then they should propose that the area should be made subject to exclusive use rights in terms of a new scheme rule incorporating permission to install the unit and imposing appropriate obligations, e.g. to maintain it and ensure that it does not make excessive noise or drip water.

Regards
Graham

May trustees adjust spending on budgeted line items?

Member’s question:

Hi Graham

May the trustees overspend on certain budget line items?

For example, if the budgeted line items are as follows:

Printing & Stationery – R 2 000.00
Telephone – R 1 000.00

Could the trustees spend R 1 500.00 for the “Telephone” line item because there were unused funds available from line item “Printing & Stationery”?

Graham’s answer:

Dear member,

In this case the general principal is covered by PMR 9(c) which requires the trustees to “apply the body corporate’s funds in accordance with budgets approved by members in general meeting”. Therefore, trustees cannot make this decision without consulting owners.

At a General Meeting, or in terms of a written resolution, I think the owners could agree to an adjustment to the current budget. Particularly if they agree that the trustees have good reason, then hopefully owners will support this minor re-allocation.

Regards,
Graham


Article reference: Paddocks Press: Volume 16, Issue 11.

Graham Paddock is available to answer questions on the Paddocks Club discussion forum for Community members. Get all your questions answered by joining Paddocks Club.

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution license.

Back to Paddocks Press – November 2021 Edition.