Noise, neighbours, pets and parking: Community scheme questions answered

Hosted by Pippa Hudson on CapeTalk on 25 May 2026

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Legal Talk: Bodies Corporate law specialist Zerlinda van der Merwe answers your questions
Pippa Hudson

During the lunch time show on CapeTalk, Pippa, Zerlinda van der Merwe discussed:

  • parking disputes,

  • noise complaints,

  • pet rules,

  • tenant rights,

  • trustees, and

  • Airbnb in community schemes.

  • In a recent CapeTalk interview, TVDM Consultants' Co-Founder and director, Zerlinda van der Merwe, addressed a range of common issues affecting sectional title schemes and homeowners' associations.

    Topics included parking disputes, nuisance noise, children's noise in community schemes, tenant rights, pet rules, trustee decision-making, and short-term letting through platforms such as Airbnb. Zerlinda explained the responsibilities of homeowners' associations and bodies corporate, the importance of scheme rules and governance documents, and the remedies available through the Community Schemes Ombud Service.

    Key takeaways included the need for residents to engage constructively with neighbours before disputes escalate, the importance of documenting ongoing nuisance issues, and the role of trustees and managing bodies in regulating the use of common property and enforcing scheme rules. The discussion also highlighted that while schemes may regulate matters such as pets and short-term rentals, any restrictions must be reasonable, properly adopted, and legally enforceable.

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