Keep the heart of your property beating

Investing in a property can be one of the best decisions you make. It is also one of the investments you need to consider most carefully to make sure you continue reaping its benefits when the market shifts. The key to an informed purchase and continuing growth is keeping up to date with the property […]

MOVING OUT? WHAT TENANTS NEED TO DO BEFORE MOVING OUT

We all know that moving can be stressful and time-consuming, but before you start packing your boxes, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind before move-in day.  As stressful and time-consuming as moving might be, it can also be exciting as you are moving on to better and greater things. However, […]

CAN A TENANT CANCEL A LEASE?

When it comes to cancelling a lease early, both landlords and tenants must be aware of their responsibilities. It’s important to note that the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) has been put in place to protect consumers and it has changed the way that South Africans do business. The CPA also protects tenants in cases where […]

MY PROPERTY HAS BEEN HIJACKED

As an owner of a building, trying to evict the hijackers and their tenants can often be without success. Hijacked buildings are when the legal owner is deprived of their property, land and possessions by the slumlords. The slumlords impose themselves as the rightful owners, collecting rent and acting as body corporates of the hijacked […]

IS THE TENANT OR LANDLORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WATER LEAKS?

Questions, and sometimes disputes, often arise between landlords and tenants regarding where the responsibility lies with the maintenance of a property. The simple answer is that tenants can generally only be held responsible for repairs/replacement on the property if the damage was caused by the tenant’s actions, or items that have a short life span, […]

HOW DO I CANCEL A LEASE?

What happens when a landlord or a tenant wants to cancel a lease? What rules and what legislation apply? What protection does the law provide? If you want to end your lease early, this can be done in situations where: the Consumer Protection Act or Rental Housing Act applies, or there’s a clause in the […]

MY TENANT FAILED TO PAY RENT: CAN I KICK HIM OUT?

If your tenant has failed to pay his or her rent, it can be tempting to simply kick them out yourself and change the locks. However, do so would be considered illegal, even if the tenant has become an illegal occupant. The reason is because of the PIE Act. In sum, the Prevention of Illegal […]

WHAT ARE TENANT AND LANDLORD DUTIES?

When it comes to letting a property – both the tenant and the landlord should always enter into any letting agreements openly and honestly and intending for each party to get proper value. Often it’s the approach which the parties adopt which will determine whether the relationship between the parties and the benefits they derive […]

IS MY TENANT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WORN OUT CARPET?

There are several damages a landlord can deduct from a tenant’s deposit. However, there are certain household items that will experience normal wear and tear over time. This is referred to as “fair wear and tear”. Fair wear and tear is seen as damage or loss to an item at the property which happens as […]