Whose Deposit Is It Anyway?

Navigating the tug-of-war over rental security The moment a tenant hands over a security deposit for a lease, the silent countdown begins. For the tenant, that money represents a future moving truck or a down payment on their next chapter. For the landlord, it is a vital safety net against the risks of property management. […]

Evicting a Tenant vs an Unlawful Occupier: What Property Owners Must Know

South African landlords often make one critical mistake: treating every occupier who refuses to leave a property the same. The law clearly distinguishes between a tenant and an unlawful occupier, and confusing the two can derail the entire eviction process. The starting point is simple: does the person have lawful consent or a legal right […]

Cancelling a lease agreement during COVID-19

2020 has been an unpredictable year, to say the least. Each new week seems to hold its own uncertainties and concerns. In such times, it is important for tenants of residential property to know what their rights are in terms of premature cancellation of lease agreements that may be necessitated by COVID-19, the pursuant lockdown […]

HOW CAN I LAWFULLY EVICT MY TENANT?

You’ve discovered that the tenant renting your apartment has damaged several appliances, including the floor tiles due to irresponsible behaviour. Therefore, you have decided to terminate the lease contract and evict the tenant. Are you allowed to do that and how do you get started? Firstly, there has to be valid reasons to evict a […]