14/04/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AT9C7J5od/
๐จ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ & ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐
Thereโs been an important shift in how levy disputes are being handled and itโs something every homeowner, trustee and investor should take note of.
A recent High Court ruling (March 2026) refused to grant judgment against a homeowner who owed just under R18 000 in leviesโฆ because the legal costs had escalated to nearly 5x the original debt.
๐๐พThe message from the court is clear:
Itโs not just about whether levies are owedโbut how they are collected.
๐ก ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ:
โข Legal costs must be fair, reasonable and
proportionate
โข Courts are no longer โrubber-stampingโ excessive
recovery fees
โข Signing an Acknowledgement of Debt (AOD) does
not mean every charge is enforceable
โข Trustees and bodies corporate remain accountable
they canโt simply hand everything over to attorneys
โข Excessive fees can place homeowners under
serious financial pressure (even risking losing their
property)
โ๏ธ This ruling signals a growing focus on fairness, transparency and proper governance in estates and sectional title schemes.
๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ:
โข Homeowners: Know your rightsโquestion
excessive legal charges
โข Trustees & managing agents: Tighten oversight and
ensure ethical processes
โข Buyers & investors: Always review levy structures
and management practices before purchasing
This is a powerful reminder that good governance protects not just the scheme but the people living in it.
โ๐ฝ Credit: Malcolm Libera, BusinessTech
If youโre buying or investing in a complex, this is exactly the kind of detail that can impact your long-term costsโhappy to guide you through what to look out for.
