Trusted Estate Management

Estate management
done properly.

Founded by experienced trustees who identified the gaps — TEM brings hands-on, proactive estate management built from both sides of the relationship.

Get in Touch Our Story

Our Background

Run by trustees.
Built for trustees.

TEM was founded by two directors with over 13 years of combined experience as trustees in complexes of more than 300 units. We identified two critical failures the industry keeps repeating: inexperienced estate managers who lean on trustees for survival, and the steady breakdown of communication between residents and the body corporate.

As trustees, we worked through 14 different estate managers across various companies — and watched each one fall short. That experience taught us exactly where things go wrong, and precisely how to prevent it.

13+
Years Combined
Trustee Experience
300+
Unit Complexes
Our Speciality
14
Estate Managers
Experienced As Trustees
3
Service
Categories

What We Offer

Three ways we
serve your estate

From day-to-day on-site operations to consulting and trustee training, TEM offers a complete service offering — built on the real experience of having been in your position.

01
Dedicated On-Site Estate Manager
A full-time, experienced estate manager assigned exclusively to your complex — handling daily operations, resident queries, contractor supervision, and conduct enforcement.
02
Resident Services & Administration
End-to-end resident management: welcome packs, move-in/move-out coordination, application processing, resident records, and all outgoing communications. We work with trusted estate app partners — or within your complex's existing platform — so residents can log requests and track progress with ease.
03
Conduct & Compliance Enforcement
Active enforcement of conduct rules through regular inspections, written warnings, and periodic compliance audits — maintaining a consistent standard for residents, visitors, and contractors alike.
04
Maintenance & Repairs Management
Full oversight of common property maintenance — from day-to-day repairs to contractor supervision, sign-off, outstanding item tracking, and project management.
05
Service Provider Management
Structured oversight of all appointed service providers — performance meetings, SLA accountability, non-compliance notices, and proactive cost-reduction recommendations.
06
Governance, Reporting & Financial Admin
Weekly written reports to trustees, meeting attendance and minutes, water meter readings, gas recharge capturing, petty cash management, and 10-year plan support.
01
Sectional Title Management Consulting
Expert advice on the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act and body corporate obligations — drawn from over a decade of hands-on trustee experience.
02
Conduct Rule Review
A comprehensive review of your estate's conduct rules — identifying gaps, inconsistencies, and improvements aligned to current legislation.
03
Dispute Opinions
Informed, practical opinions on disputes between the body corporate and owners — helping trustees navigate conflict with clarity and confidence.
04
Service Provider Negotiations
Representation and support in negotiating with service providers — securing fair, performance-based agreements that protect the body corporate.
First Session on Us
Your first consulting session (up to 60 minutes) is complimentary — no obligation, no cost. Experience the value before committing to anything.
01
Professional Trustee Services
TEM can serve as a professional trustee — bringing experienced, impartial governance and removing the burden from volunteer trustees.
02
Roles & Responsibilities Orientation
A structured introduction to trustee obligations — legal duties, fiduciary responsibilities, and what the STSMA requires of you.
03
STSMA Act Overview
A practical overview of the Sectional Titles Management Act — helping trustees understand the legislation that governs their decisions.
04
Scenario-Based Training
Real-world owner–body corporate scenarios with practical guidance on how to approach, resolve, and document each situation.
05
Managing Stakeholders Effectively
Guidance on managing your estate manager, managing agent, and service providers — so trustees can hold each party accountable.
06
Running Effective Trustee Meetings
Practical tools and templates for structured, productive trustee meetings — from agenda setting to decision recording and follow-up.

Why Choose TEM

What sets us apart

01
Trustee-Founded & Operated
Our directors have 13+ years of combined trustee experience in large complexes. As trustees ourselves, we went through 14 estate managers before deciding to build the service we always wished existed.
02
Proactive, Not Reactive
Regular inspections, live maintenance registers, periodic compliance audits, and proactive efficiency reviews — we identify problems before they become yours.
03
Trustees Freed to Govern
Being a trustee is a selfless, often thankless role. Our model is designed so that managing the estate manager is never your problem — that sits with us.
04
Full Transparency & Reporting
Weekly reports, live outstanding item registers, ticket summaries, and meeting minutes — everything documented and in your hands.
05
Communication That Works
Standardised resident communications, prompt acknowledgement, structured escalation, and a back-office team — because relationship breakdown always starts with silence.
06
More Than Estate Management
Consulting, conduct rule reviews, dispute opinions, service provider negotiations, and trustee training — TEM is your partner across every layer of complex governance.

Our Track Record

"TEM was born from real experience managing large residential complexes — and the frustration of watching them fail under poor estate management. We built the service we always wished existed."

TEM Directors — Founded 2023, Johannesburg

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

A managing agent handles the financial and administrative functions of a body corporate — collecting levies, keeping financial records, and ensuring legal compliance. An estate manager is the on-site person responsible for the day-to-day physical operations of the complex: maintenance, conduct enforcement, resident queries, and contractor supervision. TEM provides the estate management layer — working alongside your managing agent.
No. TEM works alongside your existing managing agent. We handle the on-site estate management function, while your managing agent continues to handle financial administration, levy collection, and statutory compliance. We are experienced in working collaboratively with managing agents and can integrate smoothly into your existing structure.
We work with residential complexes of all sizes. Whether you manage a small boutique complex or a large estate, our services are tailored to your specific needs. Every complex is different, and we take the time to understand yours before recommending an approach.
When you hire an estate manager directly, the body corporate takes on all the risk — recruitment, HR, performance management, and cover when they leave or are absent. With TEM, that responsibility sits with us. We recruit, manage, support, and hold the estate manager accountable. Trustees are freed from managing the estate manager and can focus on governance.
The STSMA sets out the legal framework for the governance of sectional title schemes in South Africa. Trustees are required to act in the best interests of the body corporate, maintain proper financial records, enforce the conduct rules, and ensure the scheme is managed in accordance with the Act and its prescribed management rules. Our consulting and trustee training services can walk you through your specific obligations in plain language.
Yes — your first consulting session of up to 60 minutes is completely complimentary. No obligation and no cost. We offer this because we believe the value of our expertise speaks for itself. Whether you need advice on a specific dispute, a conduct rule question, or general guidance on running your body corporate, we are happy to help you get started.
We work with trusted estate management app partners — or within your complex's existing platform if one is already in place. Residents can log requests digitally and track progress, while trustees have visibility over response times and outstanding items. Our priority is efficiency and accountability, not disruption.

Get in Touch

Let's talk about
your complex

Whether you're a trustee frustrated with the status quo, a body corporate looking for a fresh start, or an estate that simply needs better governance — we'd welcome the conversation. The first consulting session is on us.

Emailinfo@trustedem.co.za
Phone072 288 0609 (Nicole)
Send an Enquiry