Scam artist couple target property owners

Reuben and Jessica Isaac said they rented out their house to a the couple last year and started to worry when rent for the month of December 2013 was late.

Reuben said when he went to the house to find out why the couple had not paid rent, the husband [known to the newspaper] said his wife’s handbag was stolen at a shopping mall and all their bank cards were also gone. “We then gave them a grace period until January hoping they would have sorted out their issues, but still the rent was not paid,” said Reuben.

The property is situated in Heine Road and according to the Isaacs, it is no longer in the condition they left it in. “When I went to the house to collect some of the stuff we had locked in the backroom, I found the washing machine being used, three tyres, brand new ceiling fans and a gas braai were missing,” said Rueben.

Jessica told the North Eastern Tribune that they spoke to other families who had rented out their properties to the same couple.

“We found out that these people go around renting houses in the area [Lombardy East] and in the Edenvale area without any intention of paying for their stay,” she said. “They also tend to damage the property and remove copper and valuable goods to pawn it for cash, then they get very abusive when the owners approach them.” The Isaac’s said it was sad that the law protected squatters but not property owners. “The wife refuses to let us into our property and she has told us that they have rights as tenants,” said Jessica. “She said her family will stay on the property for another six months and that we would be wasting money trying to kick them out. These people are tenants from hell.”

Reuben said they handed the matter to a lawyer who was working on the eviction process. The matter will be heard in court on 13 May.