Afhco Ref 751442 | Demand for Return of Security Deposit

Until 29 July 2022, I resided in a unit owned by Afhco. When I moved out, after giving Afhco 30 days' written notice, I left the rental clean and in good repair and in no worse repair than when I moved in. On 10 June 2022, I provided Afhco with my written notice to vacate the premises but to date, I have not received a refund of my security deposit despite following-up three times last week.

I know about my rights and The Rental Housing Act says that a landlord must return a tenant's security deposit within 7 DAYS after the tenant moves. Crucially, the Act requires an outgoing inspection which is tied to the deposit and this was conducted and the unit was left in the same condition in which it was rented to me. Therefore, under the law I am entitled to a FULL REFUND of my security deposit, R3 800,00, PLUS INTEREST as the law requires these funds be kept in an interest bearing account.

I sent Afhco a formal demand for the return of my security deposit on 22 August 2022. I was given a reference, 751442, and told my deposit would be refunded within 48 hours. It has been over 3 days from that deadline and my deposit has not been refunded. I regard Afhco keeping my security deposit as bad faith and I am pursuing my right to sue Afhco not only for the return of the security deposit I paid, but also for additional punitive damages (bad faith damages) as allowed by law.

Sections 48 and 68 of the Consumer Protection Act prohibit a service provider such as Afhco from treating a consumer unfairly or penalising them when they exercise their rights. Afhco has failed to provide a status on my refund request and this amounts to a contravention of not only the lease, but of inter alia Sections 64 and 65 of the Consumer Protection Act. In light of the non-compliance with the law, and that I am now forced to retain an attorney to represent me, I will also demand reimbur*****t of my legal fees.

If any attorney is reading this complaint plus many more on this thread, discovery would blow up this sham of a company. Also to any reporter who would like to follow-up on this rental deposit **** by Afhco, there are dozens of similar complaints scattered on different websites about this company. Which reminds me, I am going to also send this complaint to the Housing Tribunal.