A sectional title property means you own a specific unit, like an apartment or townhouse, while sharing ownership of common areas such as gardens, hallways, and parking with the other owners in the scheme.

The body corporate is the governing group made up of every owner in the scheme. It manages the finances, maintenance, and rules for the property.

Common areas are the shared spaces in the complex, including entrances, lifts, driveways, gardens, and recreational facilities.

In a South African sectional title scheme, trustees are owners who are elected or appointed to manage and oversee the affairs of the body corporate on behalf of all owners. They make the day-to-day decisions for the scheme — financial management, maintenance, enforcing rules, approving budgets, and overseeing service providers. Trustees must act in the best interest of the body corporate and keep the scheme properly managed and financially sound.

Levies are the monthly contributions owners pay to cover maintenance, security, insurance, and shared services within the complex. They’re calculated using each unit’s participation quota (PQ), which is based on the floor area of the unit relative to the total floor area of all units in the scheme — so larger units generally pay higher levies, and smaller units pay less.

Levies are due on the 1st of every month. Late payment will incur interest.

The managing agent prepares the budget and presents it to the trustees, who review and approve it for the upcoming financial year. Levies are then calculated from the approved budget.

The Maintenance, Repair and Replacement Fund (MRF) is money the body corporate sets aside for future major repairs and replacements, like painting, roofing, or structural work. Owners contribute to it through their levies, which helps avoid sudden special levies and keeps the property in good shape long-term.

Special levies are extra, once-off contributions owners may need to pay when the body corporate doesn’t have enough funds to cover an unexpected or major expense — for example, urgent repairs, large projects, or a shortfall that normal levies and the MRF can’t cover.

Log in to WeConnectU with your unique code and password to view your account details.

The AGM is held within four months of the scheme’s financial year end.

The body corporate takes out a policy that covers the buildings and common property against risks like fire, storm damage, theft, and structural damage. This covers the entire structure — walls, roofs, and shared areas — but not an individual owner’s personal contents. Each owner contributes to the policy through their levies.

Every scheme has an insurance broker who liaises directly with the managing agent.

Management rules cover how the scheme is run and administered — the duties of trustees, how meetings are conducted, financial management, budgets, and decision-making within the body corporate.

Conduct rules set out how owners and occupants must behave within the scheme — things like noise levels, use of common property, parking, keeping pets, and general behaviour, so everyone can live together harmoniously.

The Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) is a government body that helps resolve disputes in community schemes, including sectional title schemes. If owners, tenants, or the body corporate can’t resolve an issue themselves — for example, a dispute about levies, conduct rules, or management decisions — they can lodge a complaint with CSOS. It offers a fair, independent, low-cost dispute resolution service and can make binding orders to resolve conflicts and ensure proper governance.

Turn off your unit’s water supply immediately, then contact the scheme’s broker to arrange for a plumber to attend to the issue.

Emergency contacts are typically listed on your resident portal, in your welcome pack, or posted within the complex.

Tel: 021 761 6611

Email:
insurance@mandk.co.za
info@mandk.co.za
enquiries@mandk.co.za

Office hours: Monday – Friday, 08:30 – 16:30