Get the whole picture when you buy Sectional Title

Most buyers who are considering a Sectional Title property know by now that they should first check how much the monthly levy is and what it covers before making an offer to purchase.

However, many will forget to ask for a copy of the conduct rules specific to the complex they are interested in, says Gerhard Kotzé, MD of the RealNet national estate agency group - although they should, because these may not be the same as the prescribed conduct rules annexed to the Sectional Title Schemes Management Act (STSMA).

"The prescribed rules are a standard framework designed to ensure that the behaviour of owners and occupiers complies with various sections of the STSMA, but the trustees of Sectional Title schemes can and often do make additional rules to address particular issues or needs in their own schemes. In a complex with a swimming pool, for example, they may make a rule that it cannot be used late at night. They might also make a specific rule about how visitors' parking is to be used, or a rule about how residents are expected to dispose of their garbage, or even a rule about what fines can be imposed for infringement of the other rules.

"Any changes or additions to the prescribed rules do need to be approved and registered by the Community Housing Schemes Ombud before they can be enforced, but even so, conduct rules can vary significantly from scheme to scheme, and prospective buyers really do need to check them out to see that they would be comfortable complying with all of them. It will be too late to object once they have bought their home."

In addition, he says, prospective buyers should ensure they are familiar with the approved Participation Quota (PQ) schedule for any Sectional Title scheme they are interested in, because in most schemes this forms the basis of how the levies, any additional charges and any levy increases are calculated.

"The basic premise of Sectional Title schemes is that the levies and costs payable by the homeowners in the complex are in direct proportion to the size of each unit as a percentage of the whole scheme (the PQ).

"So if the unit for sale has a PQ of 0,26, for example, the owner will be liable for 26% of the total levy contributions each month. And if the scheme doesn't have separate electricity or water meters for each unit, that owner will also be responsible for 26% of the total municipal bill for these utilities.  

"On the other hand, when it comes to the Annual General Meeting or any other meeting of owners that is called by the trustees, the 'value' of that owner's vote will also be 26% of the 100% total value of votes in the scheme."

Kotzé says it is possible for the trustees and developers of Sectional Title schemes to decide to calculate levies and other charges according to a different formula, "but the majority continue to use the PQ schedule calculated when their scheme was built, which is why this is essential information for any prospective buyer - along with the scheme's most recent audited financial statements, balance sheet and approved budget".

In keeping with the disclosure requirements set out in the newly implemented Property Practitioners Act, he says, all this documentation should be supplied by the seller or their estate agent, and if it is not, prospective buyers should not hesitate to ask for it, because the information it contains could very well influence their decision to make the purchase or not.

"For this reason, they should also not be satisfied with any excuses about certain information not being available from the trustees or managing agents, or with assurances that they will be provided with everything after they have signed the offer to purchase or taken transfer of the property.

"Indeed, if the information they need is not forthcoming, it should raise serious doubts about how well the scheme is being managed and funded, and about whether they should take the risk of buying into it."