Knowledge is power for women in Sectional Title property space

While women own or co-own almost 60% of the residential properties in South Africa, their representation and influence in the property sphere still lags behind that of men, according to Marina Constas, who is a specialist sectional title attorney and director of BBM Law.
 
Constas is also the founder of knowledge sharing and networking platform Women in Sectional Title (WiST) and the co-author of the best-selling book, “Demystifying Sectional Title”. This book is the definitive guide for anyone living, buying or leasing property in a sectional title complex, or anyone who deals with sectional title in any manner. The launch of the latest updated third edition coincides with Women’s Month, which Constas says is fitting.
 
“Knowledge is power for women striving to make their voices heard in the property sector, particularly in the sectional title and community schemes space, where the legislation can be a minefield. Women own more than half of the homes in South Africa, but I am regularly consulted about conflicts in which women owners, tenants and trustees are ignored or even bullied in what is still a largely male-dominated area,” she reports.
 
Constas urges women owning, renting and investing in property in community schemes like sectional title complexes, homeowners’ associations, shareblocks, retirement villages or housing co-operatives to arm themselves with knowledge on the relevant legislation and understand their rights and responsibilities in order to navigate the inevitable challenges of a community lifestyle.
 
“Community schemes are governed by two Acts, The Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act and the Community Schemes Ombud Service Act,” Constas explains. She co-authored Demystifying Sectional Title with Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) adjudicator Karen Bleijs. The book has been updated to include a number of legislative changes in the sectional titles arena.
 
Constas outlines the revisions: “First, we needed to cover the POPI (Protection of Personal Information) Act, which was fully proclaimed on 1 July 2020. This Act has ramifications around requests by owners or third parties for the personal information of other owners or trustees in the scheme. It also relates to the legality around the installation of cameras in the scheme and information taken at the guardhouse when visitors enter. We also needed to draw our readers’ attention to the Property Practitioner’s Regulatory Authority, which replaced the Estate Agents Affairs Board and came into effect on 1 February 2022.”
 
Constas notes that another important recent development in the property landscape is the rise of solar to deal with the ongoing power crisis in the country. “There has been a move in most complexes to install solar panels on the roofs of schemes. In this updated edition of Demystifying Sectional Title, we cover the ins and outs of how to get body corporate buy in and the procedural options to follow.”
 
The latest edition of Demystifying Sectional Title has been praised by property industry role players. “It is a powerful source of information for all involved in sectional title property management, sales, rentals and ownership,” comments Chantel Van Heerden, chairperson of the National Association of Managing Agents (NAMA).
 
Demystifying Sectional Title can be ordered online at https://demystifyingsectionaltitle.co.za/
 
The Women in Sectional Title (WiST) platform that was founded in September 2020 has gone from strength to strength and is another way in which women in property can stay informed and up to date, Constas says. “Women’s Month is the perfect time to celebrate WiST’s success and urge women in property who are not yet part of the WiST community to join us,” she states. “We have successfully built a growing, vibrant and collaborative community of women in property who share knowledge and support one another. Our educational and networking events have been commended. This platform is resonating with women, as well as with the men who support us and our valued sponsors who share WiST’s goal to unite and develop women from all spheres of sectional title.”
 
To find out more about Women in Sectional Title or to join WiST, visit: https://womeninsectionaltitle.co.za/