Many owners are unaware that geysers specifically are the responsibility of the owner of the unit, even when the geyser is situated on the common property, for instance in a shaft.
This is specifically spelled out in the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act.
Where geysers are shared, that responsibility is shared by those owners on a prorate basis.
This could happen for instance in a hotel block with a single bulk geyser for a group of rooms.
We recently had an owner who, having sold their unit, needed a certificate of compliance for transfer and asked the body corporate to install an isolator in her unit.
Clearly, this is the responsibility of the owner of that unit not the body corporate.
For the same reason, excesses on insurance policies must be paid by the owner of the unit.
While it would be nice to immediately replace the geyser, it is important that the excess be collected before the work is done.
The reason being that it is difficult, time-consuming and costly to collect it after the work has been done.
The same would apply to the excess on the geyser repairs.
It seems that many owners believe that the body corporate is an endless source of funds and that everything must be done on demand of an owner or tenant.
One of my personal bugbears is the demand that things be handled now irrespective of when it happens and how serious it is.
One weekend, following some excessive rains, there was a request for a plumber to urgently clear some blocked gutters.
While there was no problem getting a plumber out after hours, it was important for the body corporate to be allowed room to decide whether to send out a contractor at double time for minor repairs that can wait until the next working day.
Small water leaks or dripping outside taps are not urgent.
Telling me that there has been a small roof leak for months, which was not reported, does not encourage me to send out the roof repairman now, just because the leak has gotten worse due to the heavy rains.
Such problems should be reported when they happen, not at night or weekends when you suddenly feel they have become urgent.
- Mike Spencer is the founder and owner of Platinum Global. He is also a professional associated property valuer and consultant with work across the country as well as Eastern Europe and Australia.