There is often confusion about what level of body corporate consensus is required for certain decisions. Some years ago, Jennifer Paddock assembled a list of resolutions taken by the body corporate and by the trustees, and I thought it worth doing the same by creating an updated list in terms of the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act, 8 of 2011 (“the SMSTA”), the regulations and the prescribed rules.

Note: The list of ordinary resolutions includes the most common, and is not intended to be a fully comprehensive list.

The list of operations requiring the written consent of all owners, and special and unanimous resolutions is complete.

Ordinary resolutions

Simple majority of members at a general meeting, counted in vote value:

  • approval of the administrative and reserve budgets – PMR 17(6)(j)(iv)
  • approval of insurance – PMR 17(6)(j)(ii) and (iii)
  • appointment of the auditor – PMR 17(6)(j)(vi)
  • determination of the number of trustees – PMR 5(3) and PMR 17(6)(j)(vii)
  • election of trustees – PMR 17(6)(j)(viii)
  • removal of trustees – PMR 6(4)(g)
  • removal of the chairperson – PMR 12(5)
  • appointment of an alternate chairperson to chair a general meeting when chairperson not present – PMR 18(2)
  • appointing a trustee to take the place of one who has been removed – PMR 7(5)
  • the giving of directions or restrictions to the trustees in terms of section 7(1) of the Act – PMR 17(6)(m)
  • determination of the financial year – PMR 21(1)
  • confirming the developer has fulfilled accounting and reporting obligations at the first meeting – section 16(2)(c) and (e)
  • ratify or not ratify contracts entered into by the developer for the body corporate – PMR 16(2)(d)
  • instruction to trustees to appoint a managing agent – PMR 28(5)(b)
  • cancel the management agreement in accordance with its terms – PMR 28(8)
  • approve the erection of a structure or building improvement on an EUA – PMR 30(g)
  • approve the 10 year maintenance, repair and replacement plan – PMR 22(3)
  • install and maintain separate electricity and water meters – PMR 29(3)

Special resolutions

Taken at a general meeting – ordinary quorum and at least 75% in number and value of members present or represented vote in favour.

By round robin – at least 75% of all owners in number and value vote in favour

  • adding to, amending or repealing conduct rules – section 10(2)(b) of the Act
  • authorising the extension of a section – section 5(1)(h) of the Act
  • create and confer rights of exclusive use by conduct rule – section 10(7) and (8) of the Act
  • cancelling registered exclusive use rights in terms of section 27(5) of the Sectional Titles Act – section 5(1)(f) of the Act
  • execute or accept servitudes or restrictive agreements that burden or benefit the land in terms of section 29 of the Sectional Titles Act – section 5(1)(g) of the Act
  • making rules that provide for different voting values or contribution liability (also need written consent of adversely affected owners) – section 11(2) of the Act
  • suing the developer in respect of the scheme – section 2(7)(e) of the Act
  • deciding that the body corporate must insure against other than the prescribed risks – PMR 23(8)
  • authorising remuneration for an owner-trustee – PMR 8(2)
  • authorising an improvement or alteration to the common property that is reasonably necessary (if any owner requests a meeting to discuss and vote on the issue after trustees have notified owners of their intention to proceed with improvement) – PMR 29(2)
  • appoint an executive managing agent – PMR 28(1)
  • cancel the managing agent’s appointment on two month’s notice – PMR 28(7)(a)
  • deciding to hold a general meeting outside of the municipal area – PMR 15(4)
  • approve body corporate borrowing money – section 4(e)
  • approve the purchase or sale of a unit by the body corporate – section 4(b)
  • approve the short-term lease of common property – section 4(h)
  • approve the installation of pre-paid meters – PMR 29(4)

Unanimous resolutions

Taken at a meeting – 80% quorum counted in number as well as in vote value.  All members or their representatives who vote, vote in favour.

By round robin – all owners to vote in favour

  • adding to, amending or repealing management rules – section 10(2)(a)
  • authorising an improvement or alteration to the common property that is not reasonably necessary – PMR 29(1)
  • authorising the body corporate to alienate or let all or part of the common property in terms of section 17(1) of the Sectional Titles Act – section 5(1)(a)
  • request the delineation and cession of exclusive use rights to particular owners in terms of section 27 of the Sectional Titles Act – section 5(1)(e)
  • create and confer rights of exclusive use by management rule – section 10(7) and (8)
  • extend the period of the developer’s future development right in terms of section 25 of the Sectional Titles Act – section 5(1)(c)
  • decide on the distribution of compensation for expropriation of common property – section 12(2)(a)
  • deciding that the buildings are deemed to be destroyed – section 17(1)(b)
  • deciding to rebuild/reinstate buildings if buildings have been damaged or destroyed, or not to do so – section 17(3)(a)
  • authorise the body corporate to make loans from body corporate money – PMR 21(2)(a)

Written consent of all owners

  • to exercise or cede a future development right in terms of section 25 of the Sectional Titles Act – section 5(1)(b)
  • to purchase land to extend the common property – section 26
  • to authorise a section or exclusive use area to be used for a purpose other than shown on the sectional plan or as contemplated in PMR 30(f) – section 13(1)(g)

Body corporate decisions made by the trustees

Trustee resolutions made by simple majority in number at a trustee meeting or in writing.

The trustees exercise the powers and perform the functions of the body corporate so, in addition to the decisions reserved for the trustees alone in the SMSTA and prescribed rules, there are many decisions that the trustees make on behalf of the body corporate. Generally, when the SMSTA or prescribed rules require the body corporate to perform an operation, the provision will clarify whether or not the decision is made by the body corporate in general meeting. If that specification is not made, the decision is made by trustee resolution. Examples are:

  • change the service address of the body corporate – PMR 4(1)
  • determine amounts other than prescribed to be paid into the reserve fund – PMR 24(3)(d)

Decisions that can be made either by the trustees or by ordinary resolution of the body corporate

  • appoint a managing agent – PMR 28(5)
  • appoint a replacement trustee if a trustee ceases to hold office – PMR 7(5)
  • cancel the managing agent contract on its terms – PMR 28(8)
  • remove the chairperson from office – PMR 12(5)

Decisions reserved for the trustees alone in terms of the SMSTA and prescribed rules

  • raising the annual contribution – section 3(2)
  • raising a special contribution – section 3(3)
  • consent for subdivision or consolidation of sections – section 7(2)
  • enter into agreements about boundaries of the common property in terms of the Land Survey Act – section 7(3)
  • appoint a replacement trustee to serve while trustee is unavailable – PMR 7(7)
  • sign a document binding on the body corporate – PMR 10(1)
  • set the dates for future trustee meetings with a standard agenda – PMR 11(2)
  • exclude non-trustee members and others entitled to attend trustee meetings from the meeting – PMR 11(3)(b)
  • hold a trustee meeting using electronic communication – PMR 11(5)
  • elect the chairperson – PMR 12(3)
  • elect a replacement chairperson if the chairperson is removed from office, is not present or is unwilling to chair the trustee meeting – PMR 12(6) and (7)
  • call general meetings at short notice – PMR 15(7)(a)
  • call general meetings whenever they see fit – PMR 17(4)
  • determine the agenda of general meetings except meetings called on request of members holding at least 25% of the vote – PMR 17(7)
  • decide that a special resolution passed by members holding less than 50% of the vote value must be implemented immediately – PMR 20(9)(a)
  • increase the contribution by up to 10% for the period between the end of the financial year and when the new contribution becomes payable – PMR 21(3)(b)
  • delegate trustee duties – PMR 21(3)(g)
  • pay money from the administrative and reserve funds – PMR 24(4) and (5)
  • adopt a report for presentation at the AGM – PMR 26(1)
  • consent to keep a pet – PCR 1
  • specify the type of refuse receptacle to be used and where it must be kept – PCR 2
  • consent to park a vehicle on common property – PCR 3
  • consent to member making a small change to common property – PCR 4(1)
  • approve appearance and materials of locking or safety devices attached to common property – PCR 4(2)
  • consent to change made to external appearance of section or EUA – PCR 5
  • consent to erection of washing lines on common property, hanging washing in section or EUA if visible – PCR 5(2)
  • consent to display of signs etc. – PCR 5(2)(c)
  • store flammable materials – PCR 6

Trustee resolutions that must be written out

Some of the decisions trustees make must be made by written resolution, that is, the text of the resolution must be written out before the trustees vote on whether to adopt that resolution or not. The purpose is to make the resolution absolutely clear to the trustees before they vote. These are the resolutions that must be in written form:

  • raising a special contribution – PMR 21(3)(a)
  • increase the contribution by up to 10% for the period between the end of the financial year and when the new contribution becomes payable – PMR 21(3)(b)
  • charging interest on overdue amounts – PMR 21(3)(c)
  • investing reserve fund money – PMR 21(3)(d)
  • entering into contracts – PMR 21(3)(e)
  • joining organisations and subscribing to services – PMR 21(3)(f)
  • delegating trustee duties – PMR 21(3)(g)
  • approaching the Ombud for relief – PMR 21(3)(h)
  • set the dates for future trustee meetings with a standard agenda – PMR 11(2)

Should you require legal advice in this regard, please contact the Paddocks consulting department on 021 686 3950 or consulting@paddocks.co.za.


Article reference: Paddocks Press: Volume 14, Issue 05.

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution license.

Back to Paddocks Press – May 2019 Edition.

4 Comments.

  • Melanie Pearson
    29/05/2019 12:57

    How is the above applicable to Homeowners Associations? Is it different?

  • Warren Jesson
    03/06/2019 21:37

    Hi
    I own a townhouse in a complex of 4 in a seaside holiday town.
    The chair lady and her husband (Also managing agents) are planning a trustees meeting whereby they want to place a blanket ban on short term letting.
    I am of the opinion that 3 of the trustees (including the chair lady) will agree to this.
    This will however not suit me as I let my place out to holidaymakers and rely on the letting to pay levies and rates when I am not using the facilities.
    Will they need a unanimous resolution or a special resolution to enforce this rule?
    How do I stop them?
    Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

    • Paddocks
      07/06/2019 09:53

      Hi Warren,

      Thank you for your comment. We would love to help, however we do not give free advice. Here’s how we can help:

      – We offer consulting via telephone for R490 for 10 minutes. Please call us on 021 686 3950.
      – We have Paddocks Club, an exclusive online club, to help you get answers to your questions about community schemes.

      Kind regards,
      Paddocks

  • Laetitia Nienaber-Oosthuizen
    10/07/2019 13:07

    Awesomeness! Thank you for updating the list of resolutions, makes the job of trustees so much easier!