Sectional Title Survey is one of the fastest-growing land surveying professions in South Africa.
It is a type of Surveying that deals with the acquisition of ownership of property, mostly ownership of part of building (unit) as opposed to the whole building together with other co-owners of units in a single land. Yearly new estates and town houses are being established for residential purposes. Units before were just for rentals, but with the introduction and provision of Sectional Title Act 66 of 1971, which was then repealed and replaced by the improved Sectional Title Act 95 of 1986 (still effective), now you can rent to buy a unit effective immediately with the knowledge of this type of surveying sphere.
Sectional Title Surveying, just like any other profession, is reserved for registered Professional Land Surveyors who have undergone special Sectional Title exams and are further accredited with the South African Geomatics Council (SAGC) board, which is the umbrella for the entire Land Surveying Profession in the Republic of South Africa.
A Sectional Title Plan can be established, and existing one can be amended. If you have land and in need to build houses to rent out or sell, then the first phase is to involve architecture for building plans. Once building plans are approved by relevant authorities, then buildings are built thereafter. Land Surveyors to sectionalise your buildings is the process of converting your houses into a Sectional Title Scheme through physically surveying and drafting the Sectional Title Plans by depicting the position of all the units within the property. The Land Surveyor then submits the plans to the Office of the Surveyor General for approval purposes. Approved plans will be handed over to Conveyancers who register with the Deeds Office. Upon registration at the Deeds Office, you are then free to sell and transfer ownership of unit or different units within the piece of land to the new owners.
If you are owning a unit that is already sectionalised (in possession of an approved Sectional Title Plan) but wish to amend your building for an example by either adding a small porch or demolishing a certain part of the building, you need a Land Surveyor for such. Since the desired amendments are not part of the original approved plans, then the Land Surveyor will help by fulfilling those amendments, provided the other unit owners are in agreement with the proposed amendments and within the rules and regulations of the scheme.
Key technical words and phrase used interchangeably in Sectional Title Plans:
- Section: The portion of the building you buy, also known as a unit, flat, or apartment
- Exclusive Use Area: Area reserved for each unit owner (garage, storeroom, etc.)
- Body Cooperate: All unit owners are responsible for running and maintaining of day to day of the scheme.
- Common Property: Shared space with other co-owners (boundary wall, lift, swimming pool, etc.)
The new owner of a unit needs to be knowledgeable of the above terms that are depicted in the Sectional Title Plan. A Section is the entire unit that you buy, and it consists of living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and any other built-in rooms for your use only.
Once you have acquired a Section (unit) by virtue, then you will be in possession of Exclusive Use Areas which are areas designated for your usage only within the shared space with other co-owners of units. For example, one or two garages or garage spaces will only be reserved for you.
Common Property is the area that will be publicly shared with the other co-owners within the property, for example, fence, passages, lifts, swimming pools, and sometimes balconies, depending on how they are depicted. Such areas are shared spaces and need to be maintained, respected, and used with care. Everyone has a right to use the shared spaces so keeping it clean is mandatory.
Body Cooperates is the term given to the unit co-owners within the piece of land. The key responsibilities of Body Cooperate are to keep the land and the unit owners peaceful and orderly by applying or enforcing certain rules that keep the area running smoothly. They administer and manage the common property and are bound by the Sectional Titles Legislation and the scheme rules.
G2 Surveys Mapping is a professional company that specialises with Sectional Title Surveys, and they have Professionals on board with vast knowledge, experience, and expertise in Sectional Title Surveys. Our quality work speaks volumes and if you need Professional Land Surveyors for Sectional Title Surveys feel free to contact us, and we will put a smile on your face by solving all mysteries you have.