Problems with landlord - learn from my mistakes
2010-09-23
ON 26 August I signed a contract for an apartment with a property agent in Paarl. The apartment (part of house which is in the market) was in very bad shape, the whole interior had to be repainted, electrical work and plumbing had to be done, the electric gate was not working etc. I signed the contract for 1 September, paid the rent, and gave the agency the snag list on 27 August, but did not stipulate the repairs as a condition of the contract. The repairs lagged, and I refused to move in. About two weeks into the month nothing had been done to get the apartment into a living condition due to problems with the builder and I started to spend my own money and time on the apartment, but I still could not move in due to the poor condition of the apartment. Almost three weeks since I gave them the snag list, a painter pitched up. The agent (Era Gersbach) then proposed that they would ask the owner of the house to refund part of my rent for the month as I had not moved in yet, but he refused. So in actual fact I have paid them the R3600 rent this month to help the owner get his apartment in living condition. Tenants must make sure that they stipulate repairs in the contract, otherwise they may have to learn the hard way, like me. Unhappy
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