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Help For Trustees Is More Important Than Ever
Help for trustees is more important than ever, because being a trustee in a sectional title scheme is no small task. You’re expected to make legal decisions, enforce rules, manage complaints, and communicate with owners — all on top of your day job. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it alone. EstateIQ offers specialised help for trustees.
The Hidden Workload No One Talks About
Trustees carry an invisible load. You’re answering WhatsApp messages at 10pm, trying to decode legislation, and fielding repeated questions from residents.
Many of us took on the role, thinking it would be a few meetings a year. But the reality? It’s weekly admin, constant legal ambiguity, and pressure from all sides. But help for trustees is within reach.
Beyond the visible tasks, trustees face hidden duties like record-keeping for compliance audits, preparing annual meeting packs, and responding to owner queries at all hours. Without structured help, burnout is inevitable.
Find out more about trustee responsibilities here:
You Don’t Have To Do It Alone
Trustees often underestimate just how wide their responsibilities stretch. From compliance with the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act to managing levy collections, maintaining common property, and preparing budgets, the workload can quickly become overwhelming. Trustees are also expected to field owner complaints, enforce scheme rules, and keep accurate records — all tasks that demand time and consistency.
This is why practical, structured help for trustees is so important. It doesn’t just reduce the pressure of routine admin; it also ensures the scheme remains compliant, financially sound, and better prepared for the unexpected. With the right support in place, trustees can focus less on chasing paperwork and more on making confident, well-informed decisions for their communities.
Recognising this broader burden is step one — embracing practical help is how you stay effective and sane.
What Help is Actually Available?
Most trustees either:
- Struggle through it alone, or
- Learn through trial and error
- Paid training programmes
While some schemes hire legal or compliance consultants, that’s expensive — and not realistic for smaller or self-managed estates.
A Good Managing Agent is Invaluable But Trustees Still Need 24/7 Support
Managing agents are a crucial part of scheme management — and the best ones are worth their weight in gold. But trustees often deal with urgent or after-hours queries, legislative uncertainty, or admin tasks that simply can’t wait for the next business day.
That’s where digital support comes in — not to replace your managing agent, but to support the trustees when everyone else is offline.
The Support Trustees Need
Trustees need help with:
- Understanding legal obligations (STSMA, CSOSA, PMRs)
- Handling day-to-day admin like pet forms, complaints, and movement control
- Communicating consistently and accurately with owners and tenants
- Reducing repetitive queries and email overload
- Support in communicating with owners
- Best-practice outlines for AGM packs and meeting notices
- Guidance on implementing the Maintenance, Repair and Replacement Plan (MRRP)
Digital Support That Works
This is exactly why I built EstateIQ. It wasn’t to replace people — it was to support them. EstateIQ gives trustees:
- Digital assistants that know your estate rules and legislation
- Instant answers, legal quotes, and process guidance
- An automated digital forms hub to streamline applications and recordkeeping
No setup. No training. Just real help when you need it.
Free Resources and Affordable Tools
While some solutions are expensive and overly complex, EstateIQ is priced for real-world trustees:
- R99/month: AI Assistant Team
- R189/month: Automated Digital Forms Portal
- R250/month: Full combo (AI + Portal)
- ChatGPT Plus required: R350/month separately, only if using the AI team
You can also try it free for 14 days, no commitment.
Final Thoughts
Sectional title trustees deserve more support — not more stress. Whether you’re managing a small 12-unit estate or a 300-unit estate, there’s a better way.
With the right digital tools, you can focus on governance, not guesswork.
Want to learn more?
If you’re looking for practical, affordable help for trustees, EstateIQ was designed with you in mind. Start with a free trial and see the difference structured support makes. Try it for 14 days — test the digital assistants and see how much time you save
Sign up for a 14-day Free Trial
Jess Carrington is a trustee and founder of EstateIQ, focused on building practical AI tools that support day-to-day estate management and compliance.