Legal and Property Advice from the Professionals
The Property Poser panel helps a tenant this week whose advance rental payments have not been paid over following a change in ownership of the property. The reader explains that she rented a residential property and, for some reason, landed up paying four months rental in advance to the landlord and owner. Although she was unaware of it at the time of payment, the landlord had already sold … [Read more...]
The Property Poser panel has been approached for assistance by a reader who has been experiencing an abundance of problems since taking occupation of her rented granny flat 10 months ago. It would appear that the electrics in the flat are not properly wired, creating the potential for someone to be shocked. The reader also reports that the flat draws a lot of electricity, even when most of the … [Read more...]
This week the Property Poser experts deal with the issue of who should hold the deposit on a rental property. A reader writes that he recently purchased a unit in a sectional title complex with the specific intention of renting it out. The letting agents have advised him that they should be holding the deposit in their trust account. The reader is concerned however that the ultimate … [Read more...]
A reader who is renting a flat has approached the Property Poser panel about the possibility of moving into a vacant flat in that same block. Although she has not provided much background information, it appears that the flat adjacent to hers has become available and the reader would like first option on taking occupation. However, much to her annoyance, the reader’s landlord has made … [Read more...]
The Property Poser panel has been approached by a reader who relocated from one city to another and moved into a rental property about a month ago. The initial inspection, conducted by the landlord and agent, only took place about a week later, whereupon it emerged that the owner was not happy with animals being allowed inside. According to the reader, the preliminary negotiations took place … [Read more...]
A reader has approached the Property Poser experts with a few problems, including the manner in which her landlord has dealt with her deposit. The tenant writes that she has been renting a residential property for the past two years. In terms of her original lease agreement, she had to pay a deposit of R3 700 along with a key deposit of R200 and would not receive interest upon refund of the … [Read more...]
This week the Property Poser panel addresses a problem from a reader who is renting a cottage on another person’s property. She explains that she pays her rental in advance and her utilities in arrears and settles them jointly around the 27th, even though her lease stipulates that they are only due at the end of the month. Recently, her landlady obtained an up-to-date municipal account … [Read more...]
This week our panel once again sheds light on the rights and responsibilities in the landlord-tenant relationship. A reader explains that she moved into a flat and was required to pay a deposit of R2 000 into the landlord's account. Some time later, she gave notice and subsequently vacated the flat. Upon leaving, the reader was advised by the landlord that her satellite dish was not to be … [Read more...]
A reader who has made use of a letting agent to administer the renting out of his property has approached our panel. One of his issues deals with the repayment of the full deposit by the agent notwithstanding the fact that municipal accounts were in arrears and that there was damage to the property. Lucille Geldenhuys from Lucille Geldenhuys Attorneys in Stellenbosch says the reader does not … [Read more...]
Our panel has received a query from a tenant who is struggling with a blocked drain in her kitchen. The reader signed a one-year lease on a flat, but, within two weeks of moving in, the sink was blocked. The matter was reported to the caretaker, who said the owner had to attend to a similar problem the previous week. She was given a plunger, but had no success and a plumber was eventually … [Read more...]
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