Tag: Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act (STSMA)

Short-term rentals have become a topical and sometimes contentious issue, particularly in the City of Cape Town. Recent media reports show that listings in Cape Town exceed many international cities, including San Francisco and Sydney. Inside Airbnb, a non-profit data project, reported approximately 26,304 active listings in Cape Town as of 25 June 2025.

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

Heavy rains and flooding in parts of South Africa have put sectional title complex maintenance in the spotlight. Leaks are currently making up half of her department’s case load. While an unexpected deluge may sometimes be to blame, in many cases, the problem is a leaky Sectional Title Maintenance, Repair and Replacement Plan (MRRP).

Ask any sectional title body corporate what keeps them awake at night, and the recurring issue of maintenance – and who’s responsible for it – is most likely the answer. The solutions are often far from straightforward. According to the Sectional Titles Act, the body corporate is responsible for the maintenance of the sectional title’s common property, which includes the outside of buildings, roofs, common gardens and parking bays, driveways, security systems, and shared amenities.