{"id":2837,"date":"2021-04-15T10:30:37","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T10:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/"},"modified":"2023-05-21T11:46:18","modified_gmt":"2023-05-21T11:46:18","slug":"csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/2021\/04\/15\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"CSOS ruling doesn\u2019t end pet debate"},"content":{"rendered":"

MAIN IMAGE: Marina Constas, director BBM Law<\/strong><\/p>\n

Animal lovers and social media commentators are atwitter over a ruling by the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) that the conduct rules in sectional title developments should treat cats and dogs equally.<\/p>\n

While this decision by CSOS will be considered by other adjudicators, specialist sectional title attorney Marina Constas says that the pet debate is far from over. \u201cWhile this award is certainly interesting and is currently the subject of some heated discussions in complexes and on social media, it is not legally binding and does not set a precedent like a High Court case. Cat lovers in complexes should hold off on adopting new pets for now based on this adjudication,\u201d comments Constas, who is a director of BBM Law.<\/p>\n

Outlining the case, she explains that the applicant owner approached CSOS because she had been prohibited from keeping a kitten. \u201cThe owner contended that her complex\u2019s conduct rule permitting dogs in the complex but not cats was unconstitutional and discriminatory. The owner wanted this rule amended.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe body corporate cited many complaints that had been received about cats before they were banned. These included cats going into other people\u2019s homes and eating food, as well as jumping onto the bed of a child who was allergic to cat hair. These complaints had led to the complex amending its conduct rules by a special resolution of owners and prohibiting cats. Dogs were still allowed. When they amended their rules, they specified that cats already in the complex could stay for the duration of their lives. Thereafter, the new rules stated, applications for cats would not be considered<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe adjudicator who considered the dispute determined that the complex was not just discriminating against cats, but against cat loving owners, and failing to treat them the same as dog lovers. The rule prohibiting cats was not in line with the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act\u2019s stipulation that rules must be reasonable and apply equally to all owners of units, the adjudicator concluded, and set the rule aside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Constas stresses, however, that this is certainly not the end of this tale of cats versus dogs in complexes. \u201cThe law has not changed. The Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act still applies, together with its prescribed (model) conduct rules. The keeping of animals, reptiles and birds is the first rule, which is not surprising considering what an emotive issue this is.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe model rules state that owners or occupiers must have trustees\u2019 written consent to keep a pet, noting that the trustees are not allowed to unreasonably withhold consent. Should they decide to allow a pet into the scheme, the model rules also tell us that they will be allowed to provide for any reasonable condition regarding the keeping of the pet. The trustees can withdraw their consent should any conditions which they imposed be breached.\u201d<\/p>\n

Constas explains that the type of conditions that can be specified in the complex\u2019s rules include requiring all dogs and cats to be neutered or spayed and fully vaccinated. \u201cIt is also recommended that the rules state that pets on common property must be leashed and properly controlled at all times so as to not cause a nuisance to other residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe crux of the matter is that an owner who has obtained permission to keep a pet in his or her townhouse will find that this is not the end of their efforts,\u201d she says. \u201cThey must understand their reciprocal obligation. Apart from the various conditions which the trustees will apply – for example, always walking dogs on leashes and having a poop scoop at the ready or ensuring that cats do not jump into neighbours\u2019 homes and eat off their kitchen counters – the Act stipulates that pets should not cause any inconvenience to other owners.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf an owner is breaching the rules and the Act by either keeping a pet without permission or having a nuisance of a pet, there are a few options available to the body corporate,\u201d Constas advises. \u201cA Court interdict can be obtained to compel the pet\u2019s removal, or both parties can agree to private arbitration, or the dispute can be referred to the Community Schemes Ombud Service.\u201d<\/p>\n

She explains that if owners want a pet free complex, it is possible to draft a \u201cno pets\u201d clause in the complex rules, if the body corporate – which is all the owners – can achieve a special resolution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Animal lovers and social media commentators are atwitter over a ruling by the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) that the conduct rules in sectional title developments should treat cats and dogs equally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2838,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[161,404,160],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nCSOS ruling doesn\u2019t end pet debate - Property Professional<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/2021\/04\/15\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"CSOS ruling doesn\u2019t end pet debate\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Animal lovers and social media commentators are atwitter over a ruling by the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) that the conduct rules in sectional title developments should treat cats and dogs equally.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/2021\/04\/15\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Property Professional\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PropertyProfessional\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-04-15T10:30:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-05-21T11:46:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Keenan Prinsloo\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Keenan Prinsloo\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/2021\/04\/15\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/2021\/04\/15\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Keenan Prinsloo\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/#\/schema\/person\/22462ccece4a710f4b40653cf61024e4\"},\"headline\":\"CSOS ruling doesn\u2019t end pet debate\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-04-15T10:30:37+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-05-21T11:46:18+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/2021\/04\/15\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/\"},\"wordCount\":754,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/2021\/04\/15\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Legal\",\"News\",\"Resources\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/2021\/04\/15\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/2021\/04\/15\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/propertyprofessional.co.za\/2021\/04\/15\/csos-ruling-doesnt-end-pet-debate\/\",\"name\":\"CSOS ruling doesn\u2019t end pet debate - 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