Tenants face winter without electricity

Relationships between landlords and tenants can become strained when problems are not resolved accordingly.

Some of the tenants living at a block of flats in Jeppestown say their woes started when the new owners took over in 2013.

Ms Grace Sekgoela, who rents one of the flats in the building, said before the new owners took over everything was normal.

Ms Sekgoela said she has been living in the building for about two years.

“When I arrived, I was sharing a flat with one of the tenants and I decided to move out and get my own flat in the same building. In 2013, I signed my lease, when the new owners had already taken over the building,” she said.

Ms Sekgoela told the EXPRESS she paid a R5 300 deposit for the new flat and, according to the lease agreement, her monthly rent would be R2 700.

“From then on, the statement for my monthly rent and charges showed different amounts. These were amounts I never agreed to,” she said.

Ms Sekgoela said tenants’ troubles started when tenants started questioning rent statements.

“When we disputed the charges, we were given eviction letters and we even went to court,” said Ms Sekgoela.

She said they were in and out of court, trying to get the matter resolved, which put strain on the tenants.

“Some of the tenants decided to move out of the building because they were tired and they couldn’t keep missing work because of the court case,” she said.

Ms Sekgoele is not the only tenant to complain.

Ms Diana Mbatha, who rents a two bedroom flat, accused the owners of harassment.

“They come and knock on the door in the middle of the night and threaten to kick us out of the flat,” said Ms Mbatha.

The final straw was when they had their electricity cut off in February 2015.

Ms Sekgoela showed the EXPRESS a letter sent by the Gauteng Rental Housing Tribunal, dated February 12, 2015.

Mr Sydney Mphahlele, from City Power, has since told the EXPRESS that the entity is involved in resolving problems in some cases.

“We have contacted one of the customers and we are helping her to resolve the matter,” said Mr Mphahlele.

The letter from the Gauteng Rental Housing Tribunal acknowledges a complaint from tenants against the landlord for terminating electricity to the premises and the unlawful eviction notices issued to tenants.

“This is in violation of Section 13 of the Unfair Practices Regulation of No. 4004 of 20011, promulgated in terms of the Rental Housing Act. 50 of 1999,” the letter reads.

The owner was granted 48 hours to switch the lights back on, which was not adhered to.

The electricity in the building is prepaid and some of the flats have electricity, but for Ms Sekgoela and others, the situation is still gloomy.

The Gauteng Housing Tribunal’s spokesperson, Ms Keletso Makeng, said both matters, the eviction notices and power cuts, have been referred to the tribunal and are awaiting a date allocation.

“Keep in mind that the waiting period for allocation of a date at the tribunal is in excess of four months. The Clerk of the Court has advised me that a date should be allocated shortly for both matters.

“Both matters are opposed by the landlord. Insofar as the complaint relating to cut off of electricity is concerned, these allegations are denied by the landlord and accordingly, the issues will have to be ventilated at the tribunal,” said Ms Makeng.

The EXPRESS sent a request for comment to the Frameworks Property Services on April 20.

The EXPRESS also made several phone calls in an attempt to obtain comment.

At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.