South Africa: Before you buy a home in a gated estate, this is what you need to know

The popularity of gated communities – and especially estates – has grown steadily over the past few years, thanks to the added security that they offer homeowners plus, in many cases, a complete live-work-and-play lifestyle incorporating sports and entertainment facilities, restaurants, wellness centres, schools and sometimes even shops and offices.   Read the entire article……………………………….

The new case South Africans living in complexes and estates should know about

The issue of short-term rentals in residential complexes is a thorny one, says BBM Law director Marina Constas.  “For permanent residents, units rented out on a short-term basis – whether through Airbnb or other channels – can be bad news, jeopardising the development’s reputation, property values and security. For many property investors, however, short term […]

South Africa: Five reasons new directors, trustees should be inducted

When agreeing to serve as a director or trustee of a homeowners association or body corporate, your appointment is legally the same as if you were serving on any board of any business entity. Here we look at five reasons to be properly inducted into your new role.vvvRead the entire article……………………………….

South Africa: Insurance essentials for community housing schemes

There is much that Sectional Title trustees and Home Owners’ Association directors can do to avoid large insurance claims arising in their housing schemes – and also much that they must do to avoid any claims that are submitted from being repudiated.   Read the article………………………………………

South Africa: Visitor bays being hogged? Court bans homeowner who broke HOA rules

A common source of friction in community schemes is parking spaces. Homeowners Association and Body Corporate rules are aimed at regulating usage of parking areas but what happens when the rules haven’t been enforced? Are they taken to have been waived and therefore unenforceable? And what happens if they are enforced, but only on a […]

South Africa: How to deal with HOA levy defaulters

If you live in an estate, you know that there are always those who are reluctant and slow to pay their monthly levies – and a few who won’t pay at all until the homeowners’ association (HOA) has already started to take legal action against them.     Read the article……………………………….

South Africa: Golf estates: Life cycle presents challenges

Today, every sixth golf course in South Africa is situated on a residential golfing estate. This is quite remarkable, considering that the first local golf estate was established only 32 years ago.  There are two types of residential golf estates – primary and secondary. A third of golf estates can be regarded as primary residential, […]

South Africa: Homeowners association wins lease battle against Tshwane

The city refused to consider renewing the association’s 10 year lease agreement to rehabilitate and develop the Waterkloof Ridge Nature Valley Park.  The homeowners association of the upmarket Waterkloof Boulevard Estate has obtained an urgent court order forcing the Tshwane municipality to reconsider their application to renew their lease of the surrounding Waterkloof Ridge Nature […]

All you need to know about Community Properties

In South Africa, apartments and townhouses are sometimes part of what are known as sectional title schemes or sectional title development schemes, in accordance with the Sectional Titles Act No 95 of 1986.   Read the article………