Anyone who has ever lived in a sectional title scheme will be aware that there are advantages and disadvantages to the lifestyle. Along with the advantages, like good security and freedom from building and garden maintenance obligations, are the disadvantages, like the possibility of having to pay a special levy and restrictions on what you can and can’t do with your property.Ownership of sectional title property involves a number of elements, bearing in mind that the unit is a section plus an undivided share of the common property. The first element is the section (read flat/apartment/shop/office/factory), which is exclusively owned, and the second is the common property, which is owned by all the owners in undivided shares.The third possible element to sectional ownership is the right to exclusively use a certain part of the common property. While exclusive use areas are not exclusively owned, there are restrictions on how the owner holding the rights can use them and so we’ve included it as an element of ownership.
Let’s look at what owners can and can’t do with their sectional title property.
The unit:
The unit may be bought, sold and mortgaged.
The section:
The section may be extended, subdivided or consolidated with another section. The consent of the body corporate and trustees is required. The owner of the section is responsible for its maintenance and for making sure that it physically supports neighbouring sections and common property, and is liable for damage to the common property or another section caused by any failure in their section (the common example is the shower leaking into the section below).
The owner may renovate and change the section without asking permission as long as the change is not aesthetically displeasing (and visible from outside) and still provides the support mentioned above. An owner is also responsible for the maintenance of the hot-water system that supplies their section even if most of the system is outside the section. The section is private property and the owner is entitled to prevent others from entering. However, the trustees must be given reasonable access to the section. Sections may only be used for their designed purpose.
The common property:
Owners are entitled to reasonably use all the common property that is not set aside for the exclusive use of other owners. Owners are not allowed to maintain or make any changes to the common property except for areas over which they hold exclusive use rights.
Exclusive use rights:
Exclusive use rights are essentially a formal agreement between all the owners that only one owner (or a specific group of owners) may use a specific portion of the common property. These portions remain common property and are thus owned by all the owners in the scheme in undivided shares. The most common exclusive use areas are parking bays and gardens.
Owners must keep their exclusive use areas clean and neat. The body corporate is responsible for their maintenance but the owners holding the rights bear all costs associated with these areas. Exclusive use areas may only be used for their defined purpose. An owner may seek permission from the trustees to make changes to their exclusive use area, but the change may not constitute the extension of their section or the creation of a new section. Examples of these changes are shadecloth carports, built-in braais and Wendy houses.
10 Comments.
I have a question. I am an owner of a unit in a sectional title. I would like to know my right as an owner. This is my issue: the trustees have approved the building of metal roofs over the existing concrete roofs as a way to save money on water proofing ( or so they say) they have completed one, and it is extremely ugly. The workmanship is very poor and I am not happy with what has been done. After all, this is an investment for me. What right do I have? I am not a trustee and am currently behind in my levies.
Your help would be appreciated…
Dear Hayden,
Thank you for your comment. Please email us on consulting@paddocks.co.za with regards to your matter, and we can provide you with a no-obligation quote, so that we can assist you.
Kind regards,
Paddocks
please could you explain the awareness that an agent should have , when dealing with a sectional title property that is to be sold or let
Hi there,
The Trustees / Body Corporate have given permission to erect a Wendy House on an exclusive use area in a Sectional Title for the purposes of storage. Are they entitled / permitted to impose size restrictions of the Wendy House?
Do I own the roof over my head?
Hi Gavin,
Thank you for your comment. We would love to help but unfortunately do not give free advice. However, you may want to have a look at this article.
Alternatively, here’s how we can help:
– We offer a Free Basics of Sectional Title 1-week short course. You’ll be able to ask your course instructor any related questions. Find out more here.
– We offer consulting via telephone for R390 for 10 minutes. Please call us on +27 21 686 3950.
– We have Paddocks Club, an exclusive online club, to help you get answers to your questions about community schemes. Find out more here.
Kind regards
Paddocks
I have query, i have a wendy house on my back yard which was installed in 2005-2006 by the previous owner and new trustee would wanted to remove it, is there any law came in 2011 to not to have any wendy houses etc in common property(Sectional title)? please help. thanks
Hi Vijay,
Thank you for your comment. We would love to help but unfortunately do not give free advice. Here’s how we can help:
– We offer a Free Basics of Sectional Title 1-week short course. You’ll be able to ask your course instructor any related questions. Find out more here.
– We offer consulting via telephone for R490 for 10 minutes. Please call us on +27 21 686 3950.
– We have Paddocks Club, an exclusive online club, to help you get answers to your questions about community schemes. Find out more here.
Kind regards
Paddocks
Am I permitted to launch my drone from the confines of my EUA, and are there any restrictions other than flying 50m from any building ect.
My point being that I am paying my quota levy concluding which makes me part of the undivided scheme.
In general what is if any the legal aspect of flying/launching a drone to height of in excess of 50m and playing with the clouds. Thanks in Advance Eddie.
Hi Eddie,
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.
However, there are also other regulations that pertain to drones, and suggest that you research that separately.
Kind regards,
Paddocks