Q: Should your tenant leave your place dirty or damaged, what are your rights?
A: You can use the tenants’ deposit for any repairs which need to be carried out on the property. NB! The deposit should not be used during the lease period and should be reserved for damages to the property after the exit inspection.
Q: What are your rights if your tenant is behind on rent?
A: The lease will dictate the steps to be taken. These may include placing your tenant on notice to remedy the breach, failing which you may terminate the lease and claim damages.
Q: Do you have the right to evict your tenant?
A: Yes. However, the only legal way to evict is to obtain a court order. Trying to evict without a court order will get you into serious
trouble and may result in you being found guilty of a criminal offence.
Q: Do you have the right to take your tenant’s possession as payment for outstanding rent?
A: No. However, issuing a rental interdict summons does allow you to retain the tenant’s movable property until payment is made.
Q: Do you have the right to change the property’s locks to prevent your troublesome tenant from accessing the premises?
A: No. This will constitute an unlawful deprivation of your tenant’s right of possession.
