Paddocks Press is an ad hoc free digital newsletter published to educate and update the sectional title community. The current issue (Volume 3, Issue 10) has a number of articles of interest, including:
Commercial signage on sectional title buildings - Jennifer Paddock draws our attention to the fact that trustees must bear in mind that generally signage is erected on common property and must therefore be administered according to the provisions of the Sectional Titles Act. Section 17 provides that signs must be agreed to by a unanimous resolution. Generally one would expect owners of businesses in commercial sectional title schemes to erect signage. She notes that the act is quiet on the subject of signage in mixed schemes. There is nothing preventing owners from erecting reasonable signage on their own commercial sections. But if they want to do so on the common property then all other owners must be consulted.
A day in the life of a managing agent - Louis Lenhoff explodes the myth that managing agents have easy work. Not so. In reality some manage anything from 1000 units upwards or 50 buildings. Levy payments and problems alone take up lots of time, in addition to the usual daily complaints and issues. He highlights the importance of transparency and integrity as well as education, both one's own and that of the body corporate.
Guidelines for choosing a sectional title managing agent - Les Reynard highlights a number of factors trustees should bear in mind when choosing a sectional title managing agent. These include: being a registered estate agent; having experience; a company that offers more than just a bookkeeping service; has references; and gets on with your scheme's members.
Allocation of parking bays in a sectional title scheme - Judith van der Walt highlights problems that arise when confusion exists between parking bays ceded to owners by way of a notarial deed of cession, those acquired by custom, and those rented by the trustees to owners.
Q & A with the Professor - Professor Graham Paddock replies to a number of questions including:
- VAT registration and exemption.
- Lobbying against a proposal before it is submitted.
- Wanting to become a managing agent.
- A tale of two balconies.
- Non-owner chairperson.
- Scheme in serious financial trouble.
Leave a comment: