Thread by @n2a2o_jay

Do you live in a Rented property ?

There's a new law in place to protect you. A thread.

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5 Key changes to the Rental Housing Amendment Act, which makes amendments to the Rental Housing Act of 1999:

1. Lease agreement in writing:

All lease agreements must now be in writing and legally enforceable. The agreement and all provisions, duties and obligations must be explained to the tenant and clearly understood. All amendments to the lease must also be in writing;

2. The property must be habitable – The landlord must ensure that the rental property is in a habitable state and that it is safe and suitable for living, properly maintained and has access to basic services such as water and electricity;

3. A Tenant may not be denied access basic services or to the property – Another important aspect is that the landlord may not cut off basic utilities such as electricity and water to non-paying tenants, only a local authority can do so.

A landlord may also not change the locks or deny the tenant access to the property without a proper court order;

4. Defects to be recorded – A joint inspection of the property must be done at the commencement of the lease to identify any defects including those that need to be repaired by the landlord. The defects list must be attached to the lease agreement.

Upon expiry, another inspection must be done to determine whether any damage has been caused during the tenant’s occupancy;

5. Deposit must be invested and refunded.

According to the Act, the deposit must be deposited in an interest-bearing account. The landlord must issue a written receipt for all payments received from the tenant, including the deposit.

The deposit together with interest accrued must be paid to the tenant within seven days of the expiration of the lease. Reasonable costs incurred to repair damage may be deducted from the deposit, but subject to proof of damage and the costs.

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Reference: The source of this information is from an article in the Business tech.