Resources

FROM OUR BLOG

We are all about celebrating the women who power our communities

At STS, we are proud to work alongside and uplift women in community schemes across the country — not only during August, but every day of the year.

28 July 2025 Legal and Advisory

Is your community scheme POPIA compliant?

For trustees and managing agents, staying POPIA compliant is no longer just about best practice. It’s a legal obligation, and with the new regulations, fines, stricter procedures, and expanded rights for data subjects are now firmly on the table.

28 July 2025 Water Management

From water crisis to water smart: how STS is helping community schemes take control

South Africa is running dry, quite literally. From Johannesburg’s strained infrastructure to Cape Town’s brush with Day Zero in 2018, the signs are clear: water insecurity is no longer a distant threat, but a daily reality for millions of South Africans. For those living in sectional title schemes and other community living environments, the stakes are even higher.

27 July 2025 Legal and Advisory

The ins and outs of paying CSOS levies, and why it really matters

If you live in a complex, estate, block of flats, or any other kind of community scheme in South Africa, you’ve probably heard of CSOS (the Community Schemes Ombud Service). But what exactly is it, and why are you paying them a levy?

25 July 2025 Solar and Efficient

We’ve got smart energy solutions for a smarter way of living

After enduring 270 days of load shedding in 2024, the trustees of 304 Main knew they needed a reliable, long-term solution. And they weren’t looking for just any fix, they were looking for resilience, sustainability, and cost efficiency. That’s where Bright Light and STS stepped in.

man on the pphone with a final demand letter in his hand

26 June 2025 Legal and Advisory

Can trustees send final demand letters for arrear levies without owner consent?

In sectional title schemes, the issue of unpaid levies quickly becomes a point of friction. But one question that often arises from owners, especially those on the receiving end, is this: “Can the trustees send final demand letters without the owners’ approval?”

25 June 2025 Community

Cybersecurity for South Africa's youth: staying safe in a connected world

As we celebrate Youth Month in South Africa, it’s more important than ever to shine a spotlight on the digital safety of our youth. In a world where young people are growing up online (learning, socialising, gaming, and even building their future careers in digital spaces), cybersecurity is no longer optional. It’s essential.

24 June 2025 Legal and Advisory

When gardens and garages collide: who pays for the leaks between exclusive use areas

What happens when a lush exclusive use garden - neatly landscaped and lovingly maintained - sits directly above someone else’s exclusive use garage… and water starts seeping through? That is the problem facing a group of trustees who recently contacted us for help. In their scheme, Exclusive Use Area (EUA) gardens have begun leaking into EUA garages below. The repairs including removal of the gardens, re-waterproofing, and reinstatement are estimated to be close to R1m.

21 June 2025 Legal and Advisory

Pergola politics

In many older sectional title schemes, life outside your front door can be trickier than you’d expect. You’re not just upgrading a pergola for example - you’re weaving your way through a maze of legislation, body corporate politics, sectional plans and draft sectional plans of extension, participation quotas and variations of them, and a whole lot of “he-said-she-said” at AGMs.

27 May 2025 Legal and Advisory

Double trouble: understanding dual management, HOA's and bodies corporate

Can a single property fall under the management of both a Homeowners’ Association (HOA) and a Body Corporate (BC)? And more to the point — can an owner be required to pay levies to both?

27 May 2025 Legal and Advisory

Can trustees appoint a managing agent without owner consent?

In community schemes, the appointment of a managing agent can spark debate, especially when owners feel they weren’t consulted or informed. We often receive queries from owners asking whether trustees are allowed to appoint a managing agent without engaging the owners.

24 May 2025 Water Management

Blocked septic tank in a sectional title scheme? Who’s responsible and what to do

Few things cause disruption in a sectional title scheme quite like plumbing and sanitation issues. Whether it’s a blocked septic tank, overflowing drains, or persistent foul odours, these issues don’t just affect comfort — they raise serious questions about maintenance, responsibility, and compliance.