An interesting discussion was held on the Paddocks Club website (www.paddocksclub.co.za) It is often a concern that new owners and tenants move into sectional title schemes with pets in contravention of the rules of the body corporate. It is therefore important that the buyer give the estate agent a copy of the Body Corporate rules […]

1. All locked up Even if you are going out for a short time, lock your house and windows. Police have reported a case of a garage door opener stolen from a car, later used to burgle the owner’s property. 2. Don’t provide cover Deter thieves from targeting your house by ensuring a clear line

A recent case highlights the consequences a body corporate should consider before denying an occupier the right of access to a complex. This is the exact issue that took place between Fisher and the Body Corporate of Misty Bay. According to the body corporate of the Misty Bay Complex (the respondent), an owner of one

With electricity and water costs escalating fast and the outlook suggesting ongoing increases well above Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) over the long term, sectional title buildings are starting to take a close interest in a variety of green projects. A range of relatively simple options are popular focus areas including: • Irrigation systems: installing an irrigation

One of the fundamental rights of property ownership is the right to control who comes onto your property. But like many other rights, this right is limited. Officials of the local municipality, Telkom technicians and of course the police may enter your property against your will, under the right circumstances. Additionally, in sectional title schemes,

Budgeting is important for body corporate & home owners associations. Budgeting carefully and in advance of the financial year end to revise levies at the start of the new financial year, is a very important financial management discipline for bodies corporate and home owners associations. In this way, income and expenses are correctly matched in

Cyclicality in the residential letting market and letting priorities Residential letting is cyclical with significant letting demand peaks in January / February and June / July. These peaks coincide with typical timing when tenants prefer to move and for students with the academic calendar. The cyclicality seen in the residential letting sector has significant implications

Recognising the accelerating shift of advertising for sale and rental properties to online media, Trafalgar has recently launched a mobi site to enable clients to quickly and easily search for rental properties using tablets and smart phones. The significantly greater penetration of cell phones in South Africa compared to other Internet access channels implies that

Recently an interesting debate occured on the Discussion Forum of the Paddocks Club – www.paddocksclub.co.za. The question was raised if a discount can be given on levies to which Prof. Graham Paddock replied that there is nothing in the Sectional Titles Act to prevent this. His suggestion was that the amounts of levy discounts should

When managing property investments, tracking and managing a number of important benchmarks is advisable to optimise long term financial performance. Suggested benchmarks and targets are: occupancy % (95% plus), expense ratio (30% and below), municipal recovery % (80% plus and ideally measured per municipal service), staff costs % (10% and below),  maintenance expense ratio, variance