Tag: Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS)

It’s often said there are three tiers of government in South Africa: national, provincial and municipal. However, there is an unspoken fourth tier, namely residential governance through Homeowners Associations (HOAs). On paper, HOAs appear straightforward.

With short-term letting, particularly Airbnbs, increasing in South Africa, owners and tenants are voicing concerns about properties in complexes, estates and apartment blocks. While freehold property owners can act freely, sectional title property owners are bound by different laws

The Community Schemes Ombud Service is a regulatory body developed to assist with and resolve 'community scheme' related problems. The Community Schemes Ombud Service Act defines a community scheme as "any scheme or arrangement in terms of which there is shared use of and responsibility for parts of land and buildings, including but not limited to sectional titles development scheme, a share block company, a home or property 'owner's association, however constituted, established to administer a property development, a housing scheme for retired persons, and a housing co-operative as contemplated in the South African Co-Operatives Act".