Please read through these Frequently Asked Questions before contacting us. If you can't find the answer here, you can fill out our Advice Request form.

What is a unit?

A Unit is commenly the flat that you have bought and the area which is enclosed by walls. It does not include exclusive use areas like gardens, balconies [in certain instances] and parking bays.

The unit is the area that will be measured by a land surveyor in order to calculate your participation quota which in turn will determine your share of the common monthly expenses of the Body Corporate.

What are exlusive use areas?

Exclusive use areas are one of the most misunderstood terms in the Act and needs carefull consideration when adressing.

All exclusive use areas are defined as common property with exclusive use rights. This means that althought you have bought this area of the common property you have only bought the use thereof and do not hold Ownership of this specific part of the property. This in turn means that any changes, improvements etc. will have to be approved by the Board of Trustees and sometimes the total sum of Owners!

Do I pay for exlusive use areas?

Not withstanding the fact that you have paid for your exclusive use area when you bought your unit the Act requires from the Board of Trustees to levy a monthly charge on exclusive use areas similar to monthly levy on the unit.

It should be kept in mind that this is not an option given to the Trustees but an instruction that they WILL charge a levy on exclusive use areas.

What is the position of the board of trustees?

The Board of Trustees is elected once a year in general meeting of the Body Corporate. They are charged in terms of the Act with the day to day management of the Complex and is resposible for the enforcement of the requirements of the Act as well as the schedule 8 and 9 rules.

Although they have far reaching powers in terms of the Act, these power at large relates to the enforcement of the rules of the Body Corporate.

Various changes has been made to the Sectional Title's Act to curb the powers of the Trustees due to gross mismanagement in certain historical cases. The Trustees must always remember that they have been elected by the Owners to look after their interests and not to build their own kingdom!

Can I keep a pet?

The Sectional Title's Act is very clear that a pet can be kept on the specific condition that prior permission must be obtained from the Board of Trustees.

The Board may set such conditions as they see fit for the keeping of a pet and such permission may be revoked if an Owner breaches the conditions set by the Board.

The keeping of a pet implies responsibility on the side of the Owner keeping the pet. A barking dog may very well be a disturbance to your neigbour who works night shift and sleeps during the day!

Can I make changes to the inside of my unit?

Usually the answer on this question is yes providing that you do not make any structual changes which endangers the stability of the building or touch communal facilities like the water piping system.

If you are not sure please refer to your Board of Trustees as it can be very costly to re-instate to the previous state.

Can I make changes to the outside of my unit?

The answer here must be no. No changes to the outside of your unit is allowed before written authority has been given by the Board of Trustees.

The Sectional Title's Act values the common look of the outside of a Complex highly and as such permission for such alterations will only be given in the most extreme case.