As the owner of a Sectional Title Property, you have bought a share into a communal development which involves communal living. You share a number of benefits with your fellow owners, for example, the swimming pool, security service, gardens, driveways, complex entrance, roofs, etc. In a Full Title Property, each owner owns, maintains and takes responsibility for all amenities on their individual erf. In a Sectional Title Scheme, you share the benefits and responsibilities with all other owners (the Body Corporate).

Obviously, there are rules and regulations which govern what is and what is not permitted on a property. In a Full Title Property, the rules are set by the local municipality and are aimed at maintaining the suburb and encouraging peaceful living conditions amongst the residents of the area. Example: The municipality may not allow a business to operate in a built-up residential area; they may have a rule that in a certain area, the stands are too small to allow residents to keep horses and cows, etc. Importantly, the owner is responsible for any and all expenses for maintaining and improving his property. These municipal rules will also apply to any Scheme within that suburb.

In a Sectional Title Scheme, the rules are set by the Sectional Title Schemes Management Act No 8 of 2011. This Act provides guidelines and regulations for the governing of a Sectional Title Scheme. It safeguards the rights of the owner, and specifies the responsibilities and financial obligations of the owners of the Scheme (the Body Corporate).