Browsing: Body corporate

Painted numbers and informal agreements are not legal rights. In sectional title schemes, exclusive use areas only exist if properly registered or created through an approved rule, and misunderstanding this distinction is fuelling costly disputes across South Africa.

When water leaks from common property cause damage inside a unit, the body corporate may be liable for repairs. A recent CSOS ruling highlights the responsibilities of trustees and managing agents in community schemes.

A Western Cape court has ended a Primavera owner’s exclusive rights to shared spaces, setting a precedent for all sectional title schemes.

Legal expert Ashwini Singh warns that residents cannot bring pets into sectional title schemes without trustee consent, and CSOS cannot override this rule.

“That’s not my dog’s poo,” said the landlord. CSOS agreed, a fine must be based on evidence, not assumptions.

When a body corporate fails to follow its own rules, affected owners may face financial losses.