Balwin Properties Greenstone

We rented at Greenstone Crest for 7 months and paid a R10 000 deposit. After the check-out inspection was completed, Balwin Properties now wants to deduct R2080.35 from our deposit for a vanity replacement - advising that the vanity sustained water damage during our rental period. I have pictures from the check-out inspection and there is NO visible damage on any of the vanity side panels as they claimed. In addition to this amount, Balwin wants to deduct a further R443 for wall repainting - at first a certain Balwin agent advised this is because they found that one wall in the lounge was a different shade of white than the other walls and needs repainting - as if we painted the apartment when it was built??? Then the agent's supervisor/manager advised the repainting is because of a "bad mark" against the wall - which as per the picture I have, is clearly just a line of dust that gathered on the wall, as result of our couch that stood there - this can be cleaned with a cloth, but Balwin believes repainting is needed - ridiculous. Furthermore, our deposit refund form did not include any accrued interest on our R10 000, which as per law, is mandatory. Only after I queried this, was I advised that they will add the interest on our amended form - quite shocking that a institution of this size overlooks something like interest on a deposit - taking chances if you ask me, surely by now they know the standard rules and regulations when dealing with tenants' deposits.

All-in-all, the communication from Balwin's side during our lease period was shocking, we reported a broken washing machine (apartment included appliances), and waited a staggering 6 weeks for a new washing machine - 6 weeks is more than 20% of our time we rented there - our monthly rental surely to an extent accounts for the appliances, so evidently we were paying for a washing machine which we didn't have - Balwin simply were not concerned. It's been 26 days since we moved out and we still do not have our deposit back.

I also read a lot of similar reviews on the same agent, from other previous tenants in Greenstone crest, and it is quite clear this is just business as usual for Balwin - shocking service, and unbelievable how they try to squeeze you for every last cent of your deposit - ********* and unprofessional.