In short:
- The prescribed conduct rules say you need the trustees' written consent to change the external appearance of your section, unless the change is minor and doesn't detract from the building.
- A cylinder swap inside an existing lock is usually invisible. A new gate, keypad or extra lock on a door facing a shared corridor is the kind of change to ask about first.
- Some buildings run a master-key system. Changing your cylinder can take your door off it, so ask the managing agent before you do.
- If you rent the flat, the owner decides, and locks must never be changed to keep a lawful occupant out.
Your door, but the building's corridor
Inside a sectional title unit, most decisions are yours. The front door is different because one face of it looks onto the corridor, stairwell or walkway that every resident shares. That puts it where your private section meets the scheme's common property, and the scheme's rules have something to say about what you do to it.
Older blocks show why. Killarney, for example, is known for mid-rise blocks, some of them art deco or early modernist, and Houghton has its own older blocks of flats. Older buildings often have a mix of original doors, replacement doors and security gates added over the years, which is exactly why trustees care about consistency.
What the conduct rules say
Under the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act, schemes have conduct rules. Rule 5 of the prescribed conduct rules, "Appearance from outside", says the owner or occupier of a section "must not, without the trustees' written consent, make a change to the external appearance of the section or any exclusive use area allocated to it unless the change is minor and does not detract from the appearance of the section or the common property."
Two things follow from that wording:
- Minor, invisible changes are generally fine. Swapping a worn cylinder for a better one of the same shape and finish changes nothing anyone can see.
- Whether a visible change is "minor" is the trustees' call, not yours. If in doubt, ask in writing and keep the reply.
Your scheme's registered conduct rules may differ from the prescribed set. Ask the managing agent for a copy before planning any work.
Typical upgrades: ask first, or just do it?
| Upgrade | Visible from the corridor? | Ask the trustees first? |
|---|---|---|
| New cylinder of the same type and finish in the existing lock | Barely | Usually not needed, but check for a master-key system (see below) |
| Replacing the lock body with a higher-lever or stronger one, same handles | Barely | Usually not needed; check if the door is the scheme's standard door |
| New handles, finish or colour | Yes | Yes, if it differs from the building's standard |
| Adding a second lock or deadbolt | Yes | Yes |
| Keypad or smart lock on the outside face | Yes | Yes |
| Security gate in front of the door | Yes | Yes; the trustees may set a standard design |
For outside doors, ASSA ABLOY recommends 4- and 5-lever locks over 2- and 3-lever ones, which are meant for internal doors. If your front door still has a basic internal-grade lock, upgrading the lock body is often the most effective change you can make without altering how the door looks. Before choosing a keypad model, read what to know about smart and keypad locks.
Master keys and the building's emergency access
Some blocks use a master-key system, where each unit has its own key but a master key held by the building opens several or all doors. Union's commercial lock range in South Africa, for instance, lists keying options including master-keyed (MKD) and grand-master-keyed (GMK). If your building uses one and you fit a cylinder from outside the system, the master key will no longer open your door.
That may or may not be what you want, but it isn't only your decision to make quietly. Section 13(1)(a) of the Act says an owner must permit a person authorised in writing by the body corporate to enter the section, on notice during reasonable hours, or without notice in an emergency, to inspect and maintain shared pipes, wires, cables and ducts, or to check that the rules are being observed. The Act doesn't say how access must be arranged. Talk to the managing agent about how emergency access will work after the change, so a burst geyser pipe doesn't end in a forced door.
If you rent the flat
A tenant doesn't get to decide on lock changes alone. Ask your landlord, and let the landlord deal with the trustees if consent is needed. Agree in writing who will hold keys afterwards.
Locks must never be changed to keep a lawful occupant out, whether by a landlord, a tenant or anyone else. Lockout disputes between tenants and landlords go to the Rental Housing Tribunal, which treats an unlawful lockout as its own type of complaint. For anything else, speak to an attorney. We ask for proof of ownership or residence before opening a door.
If you're a landlord managing several units, see our guide to key control for landlords and short-let hosts.
When you and the trustees disagree
Most disagreements about doors are settled by a conversation and a sensible design. If not, the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) is the statutory body set up to deal with disputes in community schemes, including sectional title schemes. Its process normally starts with conciliation and moves to adjudication if the parties don't settle, and it generally expects you to have tried the scheme's own internal dispute process first. This is a plain summary, not legal advice; for advice on your situation, speak to an attorney or contact CSOS directly.
Booking the work
Before the technician comes out:
- Have the trustees' written consent on hand if the change is visible.
- Check with the managing agent whether your door is on a master-key system.
- Tell us how to get in: guardhouse, intercom, visitor parking and which floor.
- Send photos of both sides of the door and the edge of the lock.
- Have proof of ownership or residence ready.
Our residential locksmith service covers flats and complexes as well as houses, and we handle lock replacement on front doors. If you're locked out rather than upgrading, see what to do when you're locked out of a flat or complex unit.
We're a fully mobile mobile locksmith in Johannesburg, open 24/7, with an R250 call-out. The technician gives you a quote on site before any work starts, and nothing is done until you agree. Payment is by EFT, cash or card.
Questions
Can I change my own front-door cylinder without telling the body corporate?
A like-for-like cylinder swap is usually treated as a minor, invisible change, but check your scheme's rules and whether the building uses a master-key system first.
Do I have to give the body corporate a key?
The Act requires you to permit entry by someone the body corporate authorises in writing, on notice, or without notice in an emergency. It doesn't spell out how that access must be arranged. Your scheme's rules may say more, so ask the managing agent.
Can the trustees refuse a security gate on my front door?
They can require their written consent for visible changes and may set a standard design. If you think a refusal is unreasonable and the scheme's internal process hasn't resolved it, CSOS deals with community scheme disputes.
Need a locksmith to look at it?
If this hasn't solved the problem, our residential locksmith service covers it. We're a mobile locksmith in Johannesburg, so we come to your door. Areas where this comes up often include Killarney, Houghton.
Sources and further reading
- Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act 8 of 2011, Annexure 2 conduct rule 5: Appearance from outside (Acts Online) — trustees' written consent for changes to the external appearance of a section
- Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act 8 of 2011, section 13: Duties of owners (Acts Online) — owner must permit entry by a person authorised by the body corporate
- Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) — statutory body for community scheme disputes
- Schindlers Attorneys: The CSOS dispute resolution process in a nutshell — who may apply, conciliation and adjudication, internal dispute mechanisms first
- Evictions.org.za: The Rental Housing Tribunal — unlawful eviction or lockout complaints; free process
- ASSA ABLOY South Africa: Union sash locks (commercial) — keying options including MKD and GMK
- ASSA ABLOY: Mortice locks and conversion sets — lever counts recommended for internal and external doors
- Wikipedia: Killarney, Gauteng — mid-rise apartment blocks, some art deco or early modernist
- Wikipedia: Houghton Estate — blocks of flats, including art deco examples