When planning alterations and additions to a building in a sectional title scheme, approval is required from the Body Corporate for the Building Plan Application. What owner’s may not be aware of, is that, as they have increased the area of their section, the sectional plan must be amended.
A building in a sectional title scheme has a fixed building area, as described on the sectional plan. When owners plan to extend their building, they must get building plans prepare, obtain approval from the Body Corporate who must provide a letter signed by the Chairperson and then submit a building plan application to the municipality. Once approved, a Land Surveyor should be appointed to prepare the draft sectional plan of extension. This is submitted to the Surveyor General for approval and then they must make application to the Registrar of Deeds, to register the sectional plan of extension.
Owners must be aware that if the participation quota of the extended section increases by more than 10 %, then the mortgagee (bond holder) of each section in the scheme must consent to the registration of the sectional plan of extension. If less than 10 %, only a certificate by the conveyancer confirming the increase, is required.
So, apart from getting plans approved by the municipality, a sectional plan of extension must also be approved by the Surveyor General and submitted to the deeds office. The costs will depend on whether the additional area is more, or less than 10 % of the section.
When planning renovations to your sectional title property, please contact Stephen Knott Architects to assist.