This article appeared in the Sowetan Live and contains tips for tenants and landlords for a successful tenancy. We agree with these points but would add that the landlord-tenant relationship is more complex than this short article might suggest. It’s always wise to consult an attorney to make sure your lease agreement is watertight, whether you are landlord or tenant.
Reprinted from the Sowetan – 2022-06-13
Tips for tenants
- Create a master file for your lease agreement, the form of communication and correspondence with your landlady/landlord, receipts, rent statements and joint entry inspection checklists.
- Establish upfront whether rent is inclusive of municipal services.
- Your deposit should be kept in an interest-bearing account held by a financial institution and tenants have a right to request a statement of the interest earned on the money at any time during their tenancy. The deposit and its interest should be paid out to the tenant when the lease agreement expires.
- Use tribunal information offices situated in different municipal offices across Gauteng for advice.
Tips for landlords
- Act immediately once a tenant fails to pay rent by approaching the tribunal for an order instead of resorting to self-help mechanisms that are unlawful.
- Issue receipts as proof of payment of rent.
- Keep a record of municipal statements.
Types of disputes received by the tribunal in 2021
Non-payment of rent = 37.78%
Deposit = 13.7%
Eviction = 10.94%
Cut off of services = 9.67%
Lockout = 7.5%
Lease = 7.38%
Charges rental/services = 5.7%
Maintenance = 3.29%
Attachment = 2.47%
Damages = 1.56%
For help with any rental property issues
Simon Dippenaar & Associates, Inc. is a Cape Town law firm of specialist eviction lawyers, now operating in Johannesburg and Durban. We help both landlords and tenants with rental property issues. If you need advice on any aspect of a lease or landlord-tenant relations, contact one of our attorneys on 086 099 5146 or simon@sdlaw.co.za.
