Body Corporate Electricity Disputes: When Services May Be Restricted

Unpaid levies and electricity charges can place a body corporate under serious financial pressure.

What happened?

A body corporate approached the Johannesburg High Court to recover more than R120,000 in unpaid levies and electricity charges from a unit owner who had failed to pay for 25 months. The body corporate also sought permission to disconnect the unit’s electricity until the arrears were settled.

The dispute

The owner argued that cutting electricity would violate his constitutional rights. The body corporate argued that it had already paid Eskom for the owner’s unpaid charges and that the arrears created financial strain for the scheme.

Key takeaway

Sectional title disputes require careful handling. Where services are linked to unpaid charges, court authorisation may be important before taking enforcement steps.