“The trustees are not obliged to invoice the owners of units prior to the payment date, but only have to provide a statement of account with payments made receipted on the statement,” says Bauer.
This is according to Michael Bauer, general manager of IHFM, the property management company, who says in all cases, the ordinary levy amount remains the same for twelve months, it does not vary from month to month, and this payment is due on the first day of each month. “The trustees are not obliged to invoice the owners of units prior to the payment date, but only have to provide a statement of account with payments made receipted on the statement,” says Bauer.
“However, the trustees in sectional title schemes cannot take law into their own hands by disconnecting services or disallowing access to the complex if payments are not made.”
The trustees will usually have to send a letter of demand after five days if the levies are overdue, and if the account is still not paid after 30 days, the body corporate can start legal action processes against the owner.
He says if the trustees do disconnect services such as electricity or water, the owner of the unit can go to court or request arbitration for the reconnection and to be refunded any penalty fees that were charged, as well as damages.
“No matter how frustrating it may be for the trustees when accounts are not paid on time, they cannot take the law into their own hands,” says Bauer. “Owners, on the other hand, must pay their levies on time to ensure that their scheme is run efficiently and does not go into arrears on accounts that it has to cover each month.”