FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. Also Essential reading for all owners in Sectional Title schemes at this blog  click on this link: - Sectional Title Living If you cannot find answers to your query in the FAQ's listed below, try out the Chatroom on the Homepage.
	Trustees Our Managing Agent says that it is legal for him to be a Trustee. This seems strange - is he correct? The trustees have just gone ahead and decided that the building is being painted. A special levy has been raised – I cannot afford it – can they make that decision alone? I am a trustee, and I am feeling increasingly vulnerable about my position. We have owners who threaten to take legal action against us personally all the time. Where do we stand as trustees? We are rather confused on the issue of cheques. Can a Managing Agent sign our cheques on our behalf? I believe that a meeting must be called at our Body Corporate urgently to discuss certain issues, but only trustees can call meetings. They refuse to do so – what can I do? Harmonious Living We have a major problem with tenants in our complex. Many tenants simply do as they please with absolutely no regard to the rules of the complex. Can we evict them? I would love to install a spa bath in my section. I have been informed that I can do this as it is within my section, and does not affect common property. Is this true? The following rule regarding pets have been approved at our last AGM: Any person who finds that a pet in the complex is a nuisance to him/her can complain. If the owner/tenant receives 3 such written warnings then owner/tenant will be requested to remove the pet. Please advise on what I can do as I have received a first warning for my wandering cat. We have a huge shortage of parking in our complex and we currently operate on a first come first serve basis when it comes to the extra bays. How can we allocate these bays on a permanent basis and how can we create additional parking on the common property ? We do have some open areas How does our body corporate decide what is harmonious in appearance and what is not when giving permission for alterations and improvements? What are the requirements for enclosing balconies in our building? General The Trustees have not replied to me on many issues that I am concerned about in the running of the complex, for example: maintenance of the building, financial accounts and books of record and certain decisions that I do not believe they are entitled to make. Can I stop paying my levies in protest? What are Managing Agents? What do you actually own? What is meant by "Exclusive Use"? What is the "Body Corporate"? What is "Common Property"? Who controls the common property? Who are the Trustees? Who makes the rules? Can the rules be changed? What is "the Levy"? How is the levy calculated? Can the levy be changed other times? What is Sectional Title?