Found on your title deed or from your body corporate
Ask your body corporate for the total monthly levy budget
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Buying a sectional title property?
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A sectional title levy is a monthly fee paid by the owner of each unit in a sectional title scheme — a complex, apartment block, or townhouse development where individual units are owned separately but common areas are shared. The levy covers the cost of maintaining and running the shared property: gardens, security, swimming pools, lifts, exterior painting, insurance, and the body corporate's administrative costs.
Understanding your levy before you buy is essential. Levies are a fixed monthly cost that cannot be avoided and can increase each year. A property that looks affordable at first glance can become expensive once levies are factored in alongside rates, bond repayments, and other costs.
What is a Participation Quota?
Your participation quota (PQ) is the percentage of the total scheme that your unit represents. It is calculated primarily on the floor area of your unit relative to the total floor area of all units in the scheme, though the method of calculation can vary. Your PQ is registered on your title deed. If your unit has a PQ of 8.5%, you pay 8.5% of the total building budget each month.
For example, if the total building monthly budget is R45,000 and your PQ is 8.5%, your monthly levy is R3,825. Over a year that is R45,900 — a significant cost that must be included in any affordability calculation.
What Do Levies Cover?
Standard levies cover the body corporate's operating costs: building insurance, garden maintenance, cleaning of common areas, security, swimming pool maintenance, and the body corporate's administrative fees. Many schemes also collect a special levy for once-off major expenses like roof repairs or lift replacements — these can be substantial and are not always predictable.
Before buying, always request the last three years of body corporate financials and AGM minutes. These will reveal whether the scheme has a healthy reserve fund or whether a large special levy is likely. A scheme with no reserve fund is a financial risk.
Can Levies Increase?
Yes. Levies are approved at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the body corporate each year. Increases of 5–15% per year are common, particularly in older buildings with rising maintenance costs. There is no legal cap on levy increases, though owners can vote against excessive increases at the AGM. When planning your property budget, always allow for levy increases of at least 8% per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your participation quota (PQ) is your unit's percentage share of the total scheme, based primarily on floor area. It determines what percentage of the building's total levy budget you pay each month. You will find your PQ on your title deed.
If you rent out the sectional title property, levies are a deductible expense against your rental income for tax purposes. If you occupy the property yourself, levies are not tax deductible.
A special levy is an additional once-off charge approved by the body corporate for a major expense not covered by the regular levy — such as roof replacement, lift refurbishment, or major structural repairs. Special levies can be substantial and are not always predictable. Always check the reserve fund before buying.
No. Levies are a legal obligation under the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act. Failure to pay results in interest charges, legal action, and ultimately a judgment against you. The body corporate has the right to attach your unit if levies remain unpaid.
Ask the seller's agent for the current levy amount and the last AGM minutes. The minutes will show levy history, reserve fund status, and any planned special levies. This information is critical before committing to a purchase.