I will post this in the Community topics as many new to the board are asked to look there for answers to Community issues and will not look here in general queries.
Like Karensun, we bought before the Community was formed. Our neighbour and ourselves were the only ones to move in (March 2004, the properties were six months ahead of schedule) and the Community was formed in November of that year. Actually our developer was excellent in the sense that he finished everything off, even the pool area, and did not charge any owner for the use of builder´s electric or water.
We did not pay any charges until the Community was formed.
Our problem was with the Administrator he gave us (his cousin, who was not actually an Administrator) and the pool cleaner (another cousin) who again knew nothing about pools. He also set the fees at 180 euros as he still owned most of the properties at the time the Community was formed. and this is the amount he expected to pay until we had an Emergency General Meeting) and increased the fees to 380 euros. I have also to add that under pressure (from me) he has paid all of his outstanding fees plus penalties and even now four years after our phase was built wil come back and sort out problems that are arising with properties.
I have to realise, reading this and other forums that we have been very fortunate in our builder´s Prontisol.
Reading Viva Capetown´s reply I cannot believe that any President would not act the instant someone contacts them over fees. Having spent two hours at the Administrators this morning going over the fine details before we approach the courts I only wish we could have such phone calls. Do you have the name of the Administrator (and phone number ) Bernard, they should be able to help. The builder should have these numbers if you are a new development.