Newsletter
- April 2024 -
Welcome to our first FMS Property Managers newsletter of 2024!
To all our existing clients, a big hello, and to those who’ve recently joined us, a warm welcome aboard. This year, it’s all about growth for us – growing our managed complexes and expanding our team.
We’re thrilled to reintroduce Samantha Thwaites and share the exciting news of her promotion to Assistant Operations Manager.
Samantha’s outstanding contributions to the growth and development of FMS Property Managers has led
to this well-deserved advancement in her property management career.
As your trusted Managing Agent, our primary goal remains unwavering: to provide exceptional customer service and maintain the seamless operation of your property.
We’re fully committed to supporting your property management goals and will be with you every step of the way.
Staff highlight
Sam, as she is affectionately known, started at FMS Property Managers in January 2020 as Portfolio Assistant to 6 Senior Portfolio Managers.
In 2022, Samantha took on additional responsibilities and unofficially started managing the office, fielding all property management related queries from clients and colleagues alike.
In the same year, Sam was promoted to Junior Portfolio Manager, taking charge of our largest complexes and Sectional Title Schemes.
She upskilled her property management knowledge and, with the growth of our business, progressed into a more senior leadership position.
Sam is warm, caring and motivated, taking each new Portfolio Manager under her wing and mentoring them in the FMS Property Managers way.
During her time with us at FMS Property Managers, Sam has truly proven that not only is she a natural leader and property management specialist, she is also an invaluable asset and an integral part of the success of our business.
Samantha Thwaites - Assistant Operations Manager
Who should be chairing your meeting?
The chairperson of the trustees, being a member of the body corporate, or not, is the person automatically responsible for chairing trustee meetings, annual general meetings and special general meetings.
However, it is possible for any and all of these meetings to be chaired by a person that is not the elected chairperson of the trustees of the body corporate.
To this end, a chairperson of a meeting has a long list of “to do’s” and “dont’s”, which I’m sure can be added to, scheme by scheme, and as such, the person taking on this role must be willing and capable to do so.
AS A FEW EXAMPLES, A CHAIRPERSON MUST:
1. Maintain order
2. Ensure that the business of the meeting can be dealt with at such a meeting
3. Ensure that the meeting has been called and convened correctly
4. Ensure that everyone who is in attendance, participating and voting are entitled to be present, participate and vote
5. Ensure that a quorum is maintained throughout the meeting
6. Ensure that the proceedings of the meeting are properly recorded
7. Act fairly, impartially and courteously to all attendees
8. Ensure that there are no disruptions or interruptions
9. Deal with points of order
10. Settle disputes
11. Ensure that everyone has cast their votes, and have done so correctly
12. Not share their opinion or vote
13. Adjourn a meeting if required
If the chairperson of the trustees is not willing, able or available to chair a meeting, this role can be fulfilled by another trustee, the portfolio manager or another senior person from the managing agent’s offices, a consultant, an attorney, a professional trustee or meeting organiser or an owner (perhaps if the meeting is called by a group of owners).
It is not unusual, and in our experience more likely, that the managing agent chairs the meeting, and many refer to this as facilitating the meeting. Call it what you will, it is still assuming the role of chairperson and the list above applies.
Further, if the chairperson of the trustees will not be chairing a annual or special general meeting, the members, present or represented, at the meeting must be in favour of the alternate.
We suggest that the person proposed should be introduced and objections, if any, should be called for. If an objection/s is raised, it should be discussed, and if found reasonable, the meeting should proceed to a vote, by ordinary resolution, noting that such a person, if invited by the trustees, or attending as a proxy, is not elected as the chairperson for that meeting, such person may remain and still speak through the chairperson of the trustees or call for a point of order.
Before taking on this role, make sure that you, or the person proposed, are capable of taking on the task, taking into account the nature of the scheme, the meeting, the attendees and the agenda.
TVDM Consultants - Zerlinda van der Merwe (Co-Founder & Director)
Are you prepared?
Winter is at your doorstep
Now is the season when Cape Town gets its fair share of spectacular and notorious weather, which means that insurance claims for wind, water, and fire damage are on the rise.
Claims Facilitation Services wants to help you prepare your property for the upcoming winter season.
With a team of experienced, dedicated administrators who will assist with lodging your insurance claim and will follow up with the insurer, we will ensure that each claim is settled promptly.
*Note that insurance may not pay out on a claim if the cause of the damage is maintenance related.
Our “Winter Prep” guide can assist in mitigating risk to your property during the season.
WHY YOU SHOULD PARTNER WITH US?
● We process insurance claims on behalf of the body corporate (Trustees and Owners) and Homeowners Associations (Trustees and Owners).
● We assist managing agents with the administrative load associated with insurance claims; from submission to payment.
● Through our online ‘one-click’ claims process, claims are digitised and submitted directly to the broker.
● Insurance claims requests can be made from anywhere, at any time. Easy and hassle free!
ACCESSING INSURANCE DOCUMENTS VIA WECONNECTU.
WeConnectU is an advanced end-to-end ecosystem for the management of Community Schemes, Rental Portfolios and Inspection and Maintenance.
It hosts individual claims procedures and allows you to become better acquainted with your insurance claim policy, hotline numbers, and overall property coverage.
Log in to your WeConnect profile or contact your portfolio manager for a copy of your building insurance claims procedure.
Until next time
Our legacy of experience, passion for compliance, the financial well-being of a scheme, and the fostering of an asset, will always ensure that your investment is well maintained.
We are your first choice in property management.
Our newsletters will continue to provide insight and knowledge about property management, for body corporates, homeowners associations, and trustees. Until next time, on more about the Cape Town property market!
GET IN TOUCH
We are committed to providing our clients with excellent property management services, including efficient communication. In order to assist, reach out to us through our
This form can be used for;
● Account queries
● Insurance claims & queries
● Levy clearance requests
● Maintenance requests
● Quote requests
● Renovation requests
● Rule infringements
● Pet applications
If you would like to log in to WeConnectU
Superior Property Manager