Property Law Terms

Alternative accommodation

Accommodation considered as a possible relocation or housing option in eviction or occupation matters, especially where vulnerable occupiers or public bodies are involved.

Body corporate

The legal body made up of sectional-title owners in a scheme, responsible for scheme administration, common property, levies, rules, and trustee governance.

Common property

The parts of a sectional-title scheme that are not individual sections and are generally shared, administered, or controlled through the body corporate.

Conduct rules

Rules in a sectional-title or community scheme that regulate owner, occupier, and tenant conduct in the scheme.

CSOS dispute

A community-scheme dispute that may be taken to the Community Schemes Ombud Service, including many sectional-title, HOA, and community-scheme issues.

ESTA occupier

An occupier whose rights or eviction route may be governed by the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, usually in rural or agricultural land contexts.

Estate agent commission

Payment claimed by an estate agent or property practitioner for services connected to a sale, lease, mandate, introduction, or transaction.

Eviction order

A court order authorising eviction after the court has considered the required legal process, notices, occupation facts, and relevant circumstances.

Exclusive use area

A part of a sectional-title scheme reserved for the exclusive use of a particular owner or section, such as a parking bay, garden, balcony, or storage area.

Fidelity Fund Certificate

A certificate linked to property-practitioner regulation, showing that a property practitioner or firm has met the Fidelity Fund requirements for the relevant period.

HOA consent

Approval required from a homeowners association before certain sales, transfers, building changes, rentals, or estate-controlled actions can proceed.

Just and equitable eviction

A fairness assessment used by a court in eviction matters, including whether eviction is legally justified and what timing or conditions may be appropriate.

Lease cancellation

The ending of a lease agreement according to the contract, notice, breach, law, or agreed termination route.

Levy arrears

Unpaid levies or related amounts owed to a body corporate, homeowners association, or community scheme.

Management rules

Rules that regulate the administration and governance of a sectional-title scheme, including meetings, trustees, finances, levies, and body corporate management.

PIE notice

A notice connected to eviction proceedings under the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act.

Property practitioner

A regulated property-sector role that can include estate agents and other property practitioners under South African property-practitioner legislation.

Real right

A legal right connected to property that can bind the property itself, often recorded or protected through registration, title conditions, or recognised property-law rules.

Rental Housing Tribunal

A provincial tribunal route for certain landlord and tenant disputes under South Africa's rental housing framework.

Sectional title

A property ownership structure where individual sections are separately owned while common property is shared through a body corporate.

Sectional title unit

A separately owned section in a sectional-title scheme, usually linked to an undivided share in common property and scheme rules.

Servitude

A right allowing certain use of, access over, or restrictions on land, usually affecting the property and often appearing in title or deeds records.

Special levy

An additional levy raised in a sectional-title or community scheme for a specific expense, project, shortfall, or body corporate need.

Trust money in property transaction

Money held on behalf of another person in a regulated trust or stakeholder arrangement during a property sale, rental, transfer, or related transaction.

Trustees in sectional title

The elected or appointed people who manage body corporate administration and decision-making in a sectional-title scheme.

Unlawful occupier

A person occupying land or property without the required legal right, permission, lease, or other lawful basis.

Urgent eviction

An eviction-related court process or application where immediate risk or urgency is alleged, requiring careful proof and lawful procedure.

Usufruct

A right allowing someone to use and enjoy property owned by another person, often created by will, agreement, or registered property record.

Core definitions

Core terms in this track

Alternative accommodation

Accommodation considered as a possible relocation or housing option in eviction or occupation matters, especially where vulnerable occupiers or public bodies are involved.

Conduct rules

Rules in a sectional-title or community scheme that regulate owner, occupier, and tenant conduct in the scheme.

ESTA occupier

An occupier whose rights or eviction route may be governed by the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, usually in rural or agricultural land contexts.

Estate agent commission

Payment claimed by an estate agent or property practitioner for services connected to a sale, lease, mandate, introduction, or transaction.

Exclusive use area

A part of a sectional-title scheme reserved for the exclusive use of a particular owner or section, such as a parking bay, garden, balcony, or storage area.

HOA consent

Approval required from a homeowners association before certain sales, transfers, building changes, rentals, or estate-controlled actions can proceed.

Management rules

Rules that regulate the administration and governance of a sectional-title scheme, including meetings, trustees, finances, levies, and body corporate management.

Real right

A legal right connected to property that can bind the property itself, often recorded or protected through registration, title conditions, or recognised property-law rules.

Rental Housing Tribunal

A provincial tribunal route for certain landlord and tenant disputes under South Africa's rental housing framework.

Servitude

A right allowing certain use of, access over, or restrictions on land, usually affecting the property and often appearing in title or deeds records.

Special levy

An additional levy raised in a sectional-title or community scheme for a specific expense, project, shortfall, or body corporate need.

Trustees in sectional title

The elected or appointed people who manage body corporate administration and decision-making in a sectional-title scheme.

Urgent eviction

An eviction-related court process or application where immediate risk or urgency is alleged, requiring careful proof and lawful procedure.

Usufruct

A right allowing someone to use and enjoy property owned by another person, often created by will, agreement, or registered property record.

Body corporate

The legal body made up of sectional-title owners in a scheme, responsible for scheme administration, common property, levies, rules, and trustee governance.

Common property

The parts of a sectional-title scheme that are not individual sections and are generally shared, administered, or controlled through the body corporate.

CSOS dispute

A community-scheme dispute that may be taken to the Community Schemes Ombud Service, including many sectional-title, HOA, and community-scheme issues.

Eviction order

A court order authorising eviction after the court has considered the required legal process, notices, occupation facts, and relevant circumstances.

Fidelity Fund Certificate

A certificate linked to property-practitioner regulation, showing that a property practitioner or firm has met the Fidelity Fund requirements for the relevant period.

Just and equitable eviction

A fairness assessment used by a court in eviction matters, including whether eviction is legally justified and what timing or conditions may be appropriate.

Lease cancellation

The ending of a lease agreement according to the contract, notice, breach, law, or agreed termination route.

Levy arrears

Unpaid levies or related amounts owed to a body corporate, homeowners association, or community scheme.

PIE notice

A notice connected to eviction proceedings under the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act.

Property practitioner

A regulated property-sector role that can include estate agents and other property practitioners under South African property-practitioner legislation.

Sectional title

A property ownership structure where individual sections are separately owned while common property is shared through a body corporate.

Sectional title unit

A separately owned section in a sectional-title scheme, usually linked to an undivided share in common property and scheme rules.

Trust money in property transaction

Money held on behalf of another person in a regulated trust or stakeholder arrangement during a property sale, rental, transfer, or related transaction.

Unlawful occupier

A person occupying land or property without the required legal right, permission, lease, or other lawful basis.

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Alternative accommodation

Accommodation considered as a possible relocation or housing option in eviction or occupation matters, especially where vulnerable occupiers or public bodies are involved.

Conduct rules

Rules in a sectional-title or community scheme that regulate owner, occupier, and tenant conduct in the scheme.

ESTA occupier

An occupier whose rights or eviction route may be governed by the Extension of Security of Tenure Act, usually in rural or agricultural land contexts.

Estate agent commission

Payment claimed by an estate agent or property practitioner for services connected to a sale, lease, mandate, introduction, or transaction.

Exclusive use area

A part of a sectional-title scheme reserved for the exclusive use of a particular owner or section, such as a parking bay, garden, balcony, or storage area.

HOA consent

Approval required from a homeowners association before certain sales, transfers, building changes, rentals, or estate-controlled actions can proceed.

Management rules

Rules that regulate the administration and governance of a sectional-title scheme, including meetings, trustees, finances, levies, and body corporate management.

Real right

A legal right connected to property that can bind the property itself, often recorded or protected through registration, title conditions, or recognised property-law rules.

Rental Housing Tribunal

A provincial tribunal route for certain landlord and tenant disputes under South Africa's rental housing framework.

Servitude

A right allowing certain use of, access over, or restrictions on land, usually affecting the property and often appearing in title or deeds records.

Special levy

An additional levy raised in a sectional-title or community scheme for a specific expense, project, shortfall, or body corporate need.

Trustees in sectional title

The elected or appointed people who manage body corporate administration and decision-making in a sectional-title scheme.

Urgent eviction

An eviction-related court process or application where immediate risk or urgency is alleged, requiring careful proof and lawful procedure.

Usufruct

A right allowing someone to use and enjoy property owned by another person, often created by will, agreement, or registered property record.

Body corporate

The legal body made up of sectional-title owners in a scheme, responsible for scheme administration, common property, levies, rules, and trustee governance.

Common property

The parts of a sectional-title scheme that are not individual sections and are generally shared, administered, or controlled through the body corporate.

CSOS dispute

A community-scheme dispute that may be taken to the Community Schemes Ombud Service, including many sectional-title, HOA, and community-scheme issues.

Eviction order

A court order authorising eviction after the court has considered the required legal process, notices, occupation facts, and relevant circumstances.

Fidelity Fund Certificate

A certificate linked to property-practitioner regulation, showing that a property practitioner or firm has met the Fidelity Fund requirements for the relevant period.

Just and equitable eviction

A fairness assessment used by a court in eviction matters, including whether eviction is legally justified and what timing or conditions may be appropriate.

Lease cancellation

The ending of a lease agreement according to the contract, notice, breach, law, or agreed termination route.

Levy arrears

Unpaid levies or related amounts owed to a body corporate, homeowners association, or community scheme.

PIE notice

A notice connected to eviction proceedings under the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act.

Property practitioner

A regulated property-sector role that can include estate agents and other property practitioners under South African property-practitioner legislation.

Sectional title

A property ownership structure where individual sections are separately owned while common property is shared through a body corporate.

Sectional title unit

A separately owned section in a sectional-title scheme, usually linked to an undivided share in common property and scheme rules.

Trust money in property transaction

Money held on behalf of another person in a regulated trust or stakeholder arrangement during a property sale, rental, transfer, or related transaction.