26 September 2024 ,

The annual budget: your roadmap to financial stability

“I wonder which way I ought to go!” - Alice in Wonderland. Unlike Alice’s approach for a body corporate, its trustees, unit owners, and managing agents, managing a sectional title scheme making this type of crucial decision, requires careful financial planning.

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26 September 2024 ,

Building stronger communities: handling domestic violence in sectional title schemes

"Good fences make good neighbours." This famous line from Robert Frost's 1914 poem “Mending Walls” highlights the idea that clear boundaries help maintain harmony between people. However, as urban living evolves and people reside in increasingly close quarters, the metaphorical fences of Frost’s time seem to dissolve, exposing residents to new challenges. One of these challenges is dealing with domestic violence within sectional title schemes.

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14 September 2024 ,

Where to go for community scheme disputes: CSOS or court? Pick your battleground

At the second CSOS Indaba held at Bolivia Lodge, Polokwane, STS Chief Legal Officer Fausto Di Palma explored a critical question: Should community scheme members take disputes to CSOS or the courts first?

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29 August 2024

What is the difference between an HOA, a body corporate, and a sectional title scheme?

If you’re thinking about buying a property in South Africa, or if you already own one within a community scheme, it’s crucial to understand the different governance structures. Navigating the world of property ownership can be challenging, especially when you’re dealing with community living arrangements. “Homeowners association”, “body corporate”, and “sectional titles” are three terms you’ll often hear thrown around.

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25 July 2024

The importance of good governance and accurate record keeping in sectional title schemes

Effective record keeping is crucial for responsible property management in sectional title schemes. It ensures compliance with legal regulations, fosters transparent communication, drives efficient decision-making, and ultimately contributes to the overall well-being of a scheme.

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21 July 2024 ,

Recovery of arrear levies: an overview of executing judgment debts in terms of The Magistrates' Courts Act No 32 Of 1944

As trustees who have recently obtained a judgment against an owner in respect of arrear levies, you may be considering how to effectively enforce this judgment. STS receives numerous queries on a regular basis regarding the recovery of arrear levies, which can be a complex process, especially after obtaining a court judgment.

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25 June 2024

What is ratification?

 Albert Einstein once said “Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler."  Legal terms can often be overwhelming and challenging to interpret. One of our objectives at STS is to nurture and encourage growth and development within the communities we service.

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25 June 2024 , ,

Trustee and arrear levy lifelines

In today’s economy, managing a body corporate is more challenging than ever—just ask the trustees! Effective financial management is critical for any sectional title scheme, yet many bodies corporate find themselves in a cash flow deficit.

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28 May 2024 ,

Arrear levy collection reports: A checklist on what to include in the initial "hand over" instruction to attorneys

In continuation of our efforts to empower community scheme managers with essential knowledge for effective arrear levy collections, this blog post serves as a follow-up to our previous discussion on common legal terms used in collection reports. Building upon the foundation laid in that post, we delve deeper into the practical aspects of instructing attorneys for arrear levy matters.

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23 April 2024 ,

Common legal terms used in collection reports

A community scheme will usually instruct a firm of attorneys or a collection agent to handle its arrear levy collection matters. It is important that Managing Agents and Trustees understand the process involved so that they can make decisions and give further instructions as the matters proceed (as well as be able to answer questions at the next AGM).

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