Plugging the gap

The University of Cape Town's Law Faculty, together with Graham Paddock & Associates, launched a certificate course in Sectional Title Scheme Management in December of 2005. To date almost 300 students have enrolled, with the first class achieving a 94% pass rate. This course has attracted a wide audience ranging from trustees and managing agents, already working with sectional titles, to estate agents looking to enter property management and better understand sectional titles in order to deliver a better service to their buyer and seller clients.

Increased security, private communities and shared maintenance obligations are just some of the factors that have lead to sectional title properties becoming the preferred title of choice. Some statistics show that over 50% of all homeowners are now living in sectional title property. As the popularity of this property title grows, it becomes increasingly important for the professionals who manage sectional title schemes to have the right set of skills to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

Sectional title mismanagement has been extensively reported in the media over the past few years with millions of South Africans being negatively affected by corrupt and incompetent managing agents. Chairman of the National Association of Managing Agents, Dr Gerhard Jooste, believes that "having a quality qualification will eventually improve the professional image of the managing agents and the industry generally". The UCT qualification is obtained through a 6- month distance learning course designed for the working individual and is delivered twice a year. Graham Paddock & Associates has already received telephone calls from managing agencies looking to employ past students, indicating that the industry is starting to distinguish between qualified and unqualified agents. Dr Jooste further describes the benefits of the course by stating that "the programme will be a business improvement tool; better qualified staff will be a marketing tool; and training will improve the motivation of staff."

The next course runs from December 2006 until May 2007. For more information on the UCT Sectional Title Scheme Management Course please contact Robyn Allan on 021 674 7818 or email her at robyn@grahampaddock.com.

Download the Info pack and registration form