Apartments and duplexes

Multi-unit developments are usually made up of apartments or duplexes, but can also be made up of townhouses or stand-alone houses that share facilities, such as car parks or outdoor areas, or shared services, such as security and waste collection.

If you buy a property in a multi-unit development, an Owners’ Management Company (OMC) legally owns the common areas and is responsible for their upkeep. It is important that you understand how OMCs work. The OMC is established for three reasons: To …

Management fees are fees that property owners pay for services provided by their development’s Owners’ Management Company (OMC). You must pay management fees. They generate the cash flow that an OMC needs to provide services and maintain your development. The lease …

Many developers and Owners’ Management Companies (OMCs) employ managing agents to provide maintenance and other services in housing developments. The managing agent works under the instructions of the OMC. Managing agents’ services typically include: Inspecting and maintaining common areas Organising waste collections …

Developers and Owners’ Management Companies Developers are responsible for establishing an Owners’ Management Company (OMC) and since 1 April 2011, units may not be sold before this is done. The developer is generally the initial controlling member of the OMC and decides on …

If you live in an apartment block, or another type of multi-unit development, there will usually be ‘house rules’ for the development. House rules usually seek to regulate issues such as noise, whether you can keep pets, whether you can …