What to look for when selecting a Utility Management company

Utility Services and Property Management

What to look for when selecting a Utility Management company and managing different utilities in a body corporate can become very overwhelming for Trustees. Property management and water utility services work hand-in-hand to create sustainable and cost-effective sectional title schemes.
In particular, the management of essential utilities such as water and electricity. The management of water and its usage is a particularly contentious issue for the body corporate and trustees of numerous large residential and commercial buildings. This is where utility management service providers like Water Utility Solutions, step in to streamline processes.

In conjunction with a full-spectrum property management company, utility services can become less of a headache, and by working together, Body Corporates, Trustees, Water Utility Solutions and Property Managers can ensure that a property scheme is beneficial to all parties involved.

Water Utility Solutions and FMS Property Managers have outlined what to look out for when selecting a utility service provider, guaranteeing a profitable, thriving, and compliant body corporate.

Water management is a legal requirement

Water management in a Sectional Title Scheme is a legal requirement. In 2018, the Director of Water and Sanitation of the City of Cape Town, issued a notice requiring all multi-dwelling, commercial, industrial and residential premises to comply with the Water Amendment By-Law of 2018. This means that within a Sectional Title Scheme, each unit is responsible for its individual water use. Previously, the levies paid by each tenant or unit owner would cover the cost of water usage as well as any levies due to the City of Cape Town; however, this system was inefficient. 

Here is an example; In a unit housing a family of six, more water would be used on a daily basis than in a unit housing two. The unit of two would therefore pay the same levy as a unit of six, and, if the amount owed to the City of Cape Town exceeded the amount received by the body corporate levy, the surplus would be paid by the body corporate funds. In this instance, the Trustees of the building would be unaware if a water leak was the cause of the increase in municipal water costs. The services of a water utility management company would ensure that the Cape Town Water By-Law: Section 13 Amendment, is complied with, and that there is no wastage of non-revenue water.

Water management in a Sectional Title Scheme

The costs of basic services and utilities have increased; in South Africa, electricity and water top the list of costly utilities. As a necessary resource, water, and in particular the use of water in the City of Cape Town, is closely monitored. As mentioned, in a Sectional Title Scheme, each unit is responsible for the amount of water used and charged accordingly. Trustees of a building are responsible for common issues of the property and for its upkeep. The assistance and guidance of a property management company, allows trustees to relinquish the day-to-day tasks associated with the maintenance of their building, including utility service queries, levies, and tenant billing. Bridging the gap between trustees and utility management companies, better management and understanding of water use. This also means that spending on any surplus building expenses are eliminated. Through the better management of basic utilities, property managers, on behalf of trustees, are able to reconcile utility costs with the City of Cape Town which do not align with the utility use in the Sectional Title Scheme.

How Water Utility Solutions (WUS) works with Property Managers

Water Utility Services are critical in property management. So What makes Water Utility Solutions different?

At WUS, we understand that water is a precious resource. Our goal is to efficiently and effectively take care of our customers’ evolving water requirements by combining innovation and expertise. Our services include a site assessment, design plan, and consultation. In addition to utility management within a Sectional Title Scheme, we also provide Smart and Prepaid Water Metering and Management solutions. Our customised water utility services for property is tailored to the unique needs of premises. We work in conjunction with Property Managers, Property Developers and Body Corporates of Sectional Title Schemes and Multi-tenanted buildings.

The WUS approach to utility management includes;

• Monthly usage assessments – eliminating unexpected CoCT costs
• 20 – 30% less annual usage costs
• CoCT financial reconciliation
• Monthly financial utility reports – allows for the detection of eros in utility usage.
• Direct person-to-person contact regarding all queries
• Quick turnaround time

The work and services provided by a utility management company cannot be underestimated, particularly in the management of a Sectional Title Scheme. At Water Utility Solutions, our team of experts will handle everything from billing and meter readings to leak detection and repair, assisting you in your day-to-day property management.

The cost of water in Cape Town FMS Property Managers Smart vs Prepaid Water Meters