How does ownership work in a sectional title complex?
Ownership in a sectional title complex like Die Rand involves a unique form of property ownership, where individual units are owned privately. At the same time, certain areas and facilities called the ‘common property’, are collectively owned and shared by all unit owners. Each unit within the complex is considered a separate entity, and individual owners have legal ownership of their respective units. This means you own your unit outright, just like you would with a traditional property. You can live in, rent, sell, or improve it within the boundaries defined by the complex’s rules and regulations. Alongside owning your unit, you also hold shared ownership of the common property. Common property includes areas and facilities all unit owners collectively use and enjoy. These include parking areas, gardens and our swimming pool. An elected board of trustees manages the common property, and residents can only use the common property in line with Die Rand’s conduct rules. Owners pay a levy to contribute towards the management and upkeep of the common property.
Where is the boundary between my unit and the common property?
The boundaries of each section are the centre lines of the walls, floors and ceilings surrounding it. In other words, the inner half of the walls will be part of the section, while the outer half is common property. Up to the middle of the ceiling board is part of the section; the roof is common property. Doors and windows on section boundaries follow the same division. The inside of the door or window is part of the unit, while the outside is part of the common property. In Die Rand, the courtyards at each unit are part of the unit, while the porch areas are common property. Please consult the title deed of your unit if you are unsure. All parking spaces in Die Rand are common property designated as private use areas by the trustees and are subject to change.
How is refuse collected?
Refuse is collected on Monday mornings. Trash designated for the landfill is put in black bags, and all recyclables are placed in a clear bag. Recycling in Die Rand is very easy, you don’t have to separate your recycleables. If you put out a clear bag with recycling, Die Rand Body Corporate will replace it with an empty clear bag. Please do not put refuse out on Sunday evenings since it attacks stray animals.
I have pest issues, what do I do?
Owners are responsible for pest control inside their units. For requests for pest control on common property, such as the roof void, owners must submit a written request to the Body Corporate.
Why do the trustees accept complaints and maintenance requests from owners?
The trustees strive to manage Die Rand in a way that promotes happiness and harmony for every inhabitant while fulfilling our legal obligations to the best of our ability. The legislation governing sectional titles in South Africa and our management rules do not provide a mechanism where tenants can submit complaints directly to the Body Corporate. Therefore, to assist you, please request the unit’s owner to send a written complaint to our managing agent on your behalf. Please help us resolve your complaint by providing as many details and background of the problem as possible. Please be patient while the trustees consider the complaint since they are volunteers contributing their time in service of Die Rand. If you feel the trustees did not adequately address your complaint, you can approach the Community Schemes Ombud Service.
Where can I park?
Per our conduct rules, residents can only park in the designated parking space assigned to their unit and inside their garage. Residents cannot use any portion of the common property as additional parking, including driveways in front of garages. Residents may not park in visitor’s parking because visitor’s parking is a shared resource that belongs to everybody in Die Rand, and claiming such parking would prevent fair access to common property. Visitors’ parking is on a first-come-first-served basis and cannot be reserved in any way.