5 essentials for first-time sectional title buyers
Category News
Sectional title flats and townhouses are the properties of choice for a large percentage of first-time home buyers in South Africa, but while they generally offer excellent value, there are some other factors that such buyers need to consider before they sign a sale agreement.
It is important to realise that buying a sectional title unit also means joining an established community of homeowners who must all abide by a certain set of rules that don’t necessarily apply to freehold properties.
“In other words, prospective buyers need to establish what would be expected of them as owners in that particular sectional title building or complex, and what they could expect from their new neighbours.”
5 aspects potential buyers need to consider:
1. Maintenance
As a first step in this process, they should check on the physical condition of the sectional title complex as a whole, bearing in mind that they will share ownership of the “common property” such as entrance halls, lifts, parking areas, the garden and the security equipment. They will be partially responsible for the maintenance and repair of these facilities via their monthly levy.
“They need to consider that if the complex is badly maintained, that is very likely to have a negative effect on the resale value of their home in the future, and in the meanwhile might mean that they have to pay a hefty special levy to cover some major repairs or refurbishments.”
2. Finances
Buyers should obtain a copy of the most recent audited financial statements of the body corporate and the minutes of the most recent AGM, especially the chairman’s report.
“Buying a sectional title unit means buying into the assets and liabilities of the whole complex and you owe it to yourself to be informed about its financial affairs and operational status. If the levies are badly in arrears, for example, or the complex does not have a substantial reserve fund for unexpected expenses, you may want to look elsewhere.”
3. What are you getting?
Thirdly, you must make absolutely sure what it is that you are being asked to buy.
“Prospective buyers may be told, for example, that a parking bay belongs to a specific unit when it is in fact part of common property. Or they might not be told that because their balcony is actually an exclusive use area, they will have to pay an additional amount to the body corporate for its maintenance and repair,”
“And such considerations could make a significant difference to the affordability of the purchase and thus their decision to buy or not.”
4. Are there any additional costs?
The fourth thing for sectional title buyers to double check is that the monthly levy quoted by the seller or the estate agent is correct.
“Ask to see the most recent levy account, and enquire whether there are any other charges payable that are not shown, such as a DStv connection charge, parking fee or special levy contribution. The latter is especially important as the introduction of a special levy that they cannot afford may well be why the current owners are selling,”
5. Know the rules
Prospective buyers need to read the Conduct Rules of the complex.
“These apply to all residents and are the ‘nitty gritty’ of sectional title living. They will tell you, for example, if pets are allowed or not, if there are noise restrictions, and how owners and tenants are expected to treat the common property".
Together with the other information you have gathered, this should give you a very clear picture of what it would be like to live in the complex if you were to buy the unit you viewed.
Author: Andrew Schaefer