Warning: Student Accommodation in Potchefstroom
<p> My son rented accommodation in Campus Living 3 in Potch since Jan 2016 with a year contract. I want to warn parents to be very cautious to rent here. The staff (spesifically 1 lady) is VERY ******** towards students. With your 18 year old child, 6 hours away from home (even if it a son) you would think that they will provide him a "home away from home". NOT AT ALL:</p> <p>1. My son's car was clamped after 1 night's parking on a friend's space, which he made arrangements with. (He drove 6 hours and arrived late that night). He could not leave for his part time work the next morning, saw the clamp was not even fitted properly and put in his boot, to make arrangements with office later. He was threatened with arrestation and treated like ******** - problem was solved after I had a fight with one of the owners. </p> <p>2. His clothes were ****** from the washing line - expensive training clothes. He had to hang it in his very small room from then on.</p> <p>3. Through out the cold Potch winter , there were days and even weeks where they had no hot water. His medical costs went through the roof. Complaints fell on deaf ears and he was at one stage instructed to "please call the plumber himself"! Student with R150 airtime per month?</p> <p>4. On his arrival in his room one day, he found workers busy changing the door locks. Apparantly the room mate was behind with his account. No notice was given to any of the 4 students sharing. What if he arrived late at night at a door where his key does not fit? At the end it was a mistake on the lessee's part AND meat was missing out of their fridge. Room mate was not even in the wrong?</p> <p>5. Drugs are used in the floor he lives on.</p> <p>6. This resulting in noise at night - cannot study/sleep. One of the room mates went out to confront the noise - he was assulted badly. (blood on door, etc). Now, this room is targeted: doors kicked, banging on windows at night, etc.</p> <p>7. My son could not study with current roommate for different reasons.</p> <p>8. On our requests for another (single) room, they could not accommodate him. (He was willing to work more hours to afford the single room)</p> <p>9. Reply on my written request to have my son's contract cancelled earlier (Aug 2016), with explaining some of the issues and offering to pay the contractual R2 000 cancellation fee and/or forfeit our deposit, I received an e-mail with the terms of early cancellation in the contract IN BOLD. </p> <p>My son now sleeps on a sofa at his friend's room most of the time, while we are paying full rent till end of the contract.</p> <p>PLEASE beware of this place - it is apparently already fully occupied for 2017. Probably with first years for 2017 not knowing what they are letting themselves into.</p> <p>They do not care about your child at all there at this place's "student office". I asked my son to report all this - his words: "what will it help?" </p>
We as the owner of the unit would like to respond to the allegations made against us on 21 September 2016 and address each matter below point by point. Kindly note that we are only the owner of the mentioned unit i.e a part of 28 other individual owners and that the building is managed and administered by Hapiblan managing agent of the mentioned building:
1. Each student and parent is supp**** with a copy of the conduct / house rules which forms part of the rental agreement as well as the administrative details applicable to the building. In the house rules it is clearly stipulated as follow:
“3.13 No unauthorized parking are allowed by none parking holders and are subjected to prescribed penalties/fines as determined”
“3.8 The Trustees may in accordance with Rule 17.2 below cause to be removed or towed away, or its wheels to be clamped, at the risk and expense, including payment of a release penalty to be determined by the Trustees from time to time, any vehicle parked, stood or abandoned in contravention of these Rules.”
The signing of the conduct / house rules by the tenant / parent is seen as an acknowledgement of all the stipulations made. The business hours of the administration office was also supp**** in the rental contract and the tenant could have made prior arrangement with the administration office (cellphone contact are available 24 hours a day) to park on the friend’s space which would not have resulted in the car being clamped.
The owner held a conversation and discussion with the parent the next day after the clamping occurred on 28 June 2016 and explained the effect of property vandalism and the issues with the parent was subsequently resolved in a friendly manner.
2. We could not find any record that the parent reported his clothing being ****** at the administration office or at the office of Habiplan managing agent. Please supply proof regarding the reported issue to enable us to address the matter.
3. We could not find any record that the parent reported the warm water and plumbing problem to the administration office or at the office of Habiplan managing agent. Please supply proof regarding the reported issue to enable us to address the matter.
4. We apologized to all the tenants right after this incident occurred. After we received the complaint regarding the changing of the locks the internal rent collection procedure was altered and according to the owner of the unit this problem was adequately resolved. The apology was put forward to the tenants and this was accepted by all parties involved and the incident was deemed to be finalized.
5. Please supply us with proof that the matter was reported to the administration office and or the managing agent of the building Habiplan, the security guard on duty or the non-resident caretaker that conducts nightly visits to the complex between 10pm to 3am. As stipulated in our conduct / house rules and the importance thereof to the owner we refer to clause “7.24 The Lessor maintains a zero tolerance policy regarding the use, possession, distribution or manufacturing of any type of drugs” as this is a very serious offence. We as the owner will also address this matter with Habiplan the managing agent in order to ensure that clause 7.24 of the rental agreement are adhered to by all occupants of the building.
6. A non-resident caretaker conducts nightly visits to the complex between 10pm to 3am to ensure that the noise is kept to a minimum. As stipulated in the conduct / house rules and the importance thereof to the owner we refer to clause “13.4 All owners and occupiers shall maintain reasonable quietness between 22h00 and 07h00". Please supply us with proof that the incident was reported to the caretaker or even the police. Disturbance after 12pm is seen as a municipal matter and further the police can be contacted to address these situations. If the situation was reported to Habiplan managing agent, please supply us with the necessary details to address the matter accordingly.
7. Internal differences between roommates are to be addressed by all the parents and students involved. Please supply us with feedback regarding the meeting that was held with the other parents and students to address the differences you experienced to allow us to assist further with this matter and to help us to put corrective measures in place going forward if applicable.
8. At the time of the request we were not aware of any other units available for the student to move to another room and we have notified the parent accordingly. We also did not receive any further regular request after this from the parent or student to move to another unit and deemed the matter to have been resolved.
9. Correct. Please note that it is important for all students and parents to be made aware of all the clauses regarding the cancellation of the contract and as such we highlight the applicable costs with a cancellation in bold to ensure that the parent and student are aware of the costs involved especially in today’s economic climate where costs plays an important part in making specific decisions.
The parent and/or student is more than welcome to visit the administration office to discuss their problems as we would like to assist them by addressing any difficulties and/or problems they are experiencing.
The high renewal percentages achieved over prior years is a good indication to us as the owner that this as an isolated incident. All comments and remarks will also be discussed with the managing agent. We treat each and every student’s wellbeing as a high priority and further assist each student with any problem that may occur with the utmost urgency and professionalism.
We as the owner of the unit would like to respond to the allegations made against us on 21 September 2016 and address each matter below point by point. Kindly note that we are only the owner of the mentioned unit i.e a part of 28 other individual owners and that the building is managed and administered by Hapiblan managing agent of the mentioned building:
1. Each student and parent is supp**** with a copy of the conduct / house rules which forms part of the rental agreement as well as the administrative details applicable to the building. In the house rules it is clearly stipulated as follow:
“3.13 No unauthorized parking are allowed by none parking holders and are subjected to prescribed penalties/fines as determined”
“3.8 The Trustees may in accordance with Rule 17.2 below cause to be removed or towed away, or its wheels to be clamped, at the risk and expense, including payment of a release penalty to be determined by the Trustees from time to time, any vehicle parked, stood or abandoned in contravention of these Rules.”
The signing of the conduct / house rules by the tenant / parent is seen as an acknowledgement of all the stipulations made. The business hours of the administration office was also supp**** in the rental contract and the tenant could have made prior arrangement with the administration office (cellphone contact are available 24 hours a day) to park on the friend’s space which would not have resulted in the car being clamped.
The owner held a conversation and discussion with the parent the next day after the clamping occurred on 28 June 2016 and explained the effect of property vandalism and the issues with the parent was subsequently resolved in a friendly manner.
2. We could not find any record that the parent reported his clothing being ****** at the administration office or at the office of Habiplan managing agent. Please supply proof regarding the reported issue to enable us to address the matter.
3. We could not find any record that the parent reported the warm water and plumbing problem to the administration office or at the office of Habiplan managing agent. Please supply proof regarding the reported issue to enable us to address the matter.
4. We apologized to all the tenants right after this incident occurred. After we received the complaint regarding the changing of the locks the internal rent collection procedure was altered and according to the owner of the unit this problem was adequately resolved. The apology was put forward to the tenants and this was accepted by all parties involved and the incident was deemed to be finalized.
5. Please supply us with proof that the matter was reported to the administration office and or the managing agent of the building Habiplan, the security guard on duty or the non-resident caretaker that conducts nightly visits to the complex between 10pm to 3am. As stipulated in our conduct / house rules and the importance thereof to the owner we refer to clause “7.24 The Lessor maintains a zero tolerance policy regarding the use, possession, distribution or manufacturing of any type of drugs” as this is a very serious offence. We as the owner will also address this matter with Habiplan the managing agent in order to ensure that clause 7.24 of the rental agreement are adhered to by all occupants of the building.
6. A non-resident caretaker conducts nightly visits to the complex between 10pm to 3am to ensure that the noise is kept to a minimum. As stipulated in the conduct / house rules and the importance thereof to the owner we refer to clause “13.4 All owners and occupiers shall maintain reasonable quietness between 22h00 and 07h00". Please supply us with proof that the incident was reported to the caretaker or even the police. Disturbance after 12pm is seen as a municipal matter and further the police can be contacted to address these situations. If the situation was reported to Habiplan managing agent, please supply us with the necessary details to address the matter accordingly.
7. Internal differences between roommates are to be addressed by all the parents and students involved. Please supply us with feedback regarding the meeting that was held with the other parents and students to address the differences you experienced to allow us to assist further with this matter and to help us to put corrective measures in place going forward if applicable.
8. At the time of the request we were not aware of any other units available for the student to move to another room and we have notified the parent accordingly. We also did not receive any further regular request after this from the parent or student to move to another unit and deemed the matter to have been resolved.
9. Correct. Please note that it is important for all students and parents to be made aware of all the clauses regarding the cancellation of the contract and as such we highlight the applicable costs with a cancellation in bold to ensure that the parent and student are aware of the costs involved especially in today’s economic climate where costs plays an important part in making specific decisions.
The parent and/or student is more than welcome to visit the administration office to discuss their problems as we would like to assist them by addressing any difficulties and/or problems they are experiencing.
The high renewal percentages achieved over prior years is a good indication to us as the owner that this as an isolated incident. All comments and remarks will also be discussed with the managing agent. We treat each and every student’s wellbeing as a high priority and further assist each student with any problem that may occur with the utmost urgency and professionalism.
Thank you for the feedback. Just a few retorical notes:
How do you know that all of the above are implemented as stated neatly in theory? If nobody inform you, you will not have inside info.
We cannot provide proof of my son's coversations with the administration office, so it is easy to deny everything.
You obviously believe Chanteaul at the administration office. She has a "don't care attitude" - with no empathy - maybe our expectations are too high?
My son only told us when he tried, and could not resolve a problem himself. So I did not intervine with office, parents, meetings, etc. with every problem.
Each insident individually, is not insoluble, but all of them together, with one individual in a period of 8 months?
Yes, I am sure that the renewal percentages are high, because affordable accommodation so close to campus is very difficult to find - especially if you have to arrange it staying 6 hour's drive from Potchefstroom.
It would be interesting to see what the true retention percentage (students renting for more than 1 year) is over the years.
The only 2 points I would like to make is:
1. Please get someone in your administration office who is committed to make students (especially first years) feel they have an open ear and who listens to a situation with empathy as most of them are very far from home. All situations are not always black/white.
2. Please let go of the stigma that ALL students are bad, unmannered and misbehaved. Treat each student as an individual.
Thank you for the feedback. Just a few retorical notes:
How do you know that all of the above are implemented as stated neatly in theory? If nobody inform you, you will not have inside info.
We cannot provide proof of my son's coversations with the administration office, so it is easy to deny everything.
You obviously believe Chanteaul at the administration office. She has a "don't care attitude" - with no empathy - maybe our expectations are too high?
My son only told us when he tried, and could not resolve a problem himself. So I did not intervine with office, parents, meetings, etc. with every problem.
Each insident individually, is not insoluble, but all of them together, with one individual in a period of 8 months?
Yes, I am sure that the renewal percentages are high, because affordable accommodation so close to campus is very difficult to find - especially if you have to arrange it staying 6 hour's drive from Potchefstroom.
It would be interesting to see what the true retention percentage (students renting for more than 1 year) is over the years.
The only 2 points I would like to make is:
1. Please get someone in your administration office who is committed to make students (especially first years) feel they have an open ear and who listens to a situation with empathy as most of them are very far from home. All situations are not always black/white.
2. Please let go of the stigma that ALL students are bad, unmannered and misbehaved. Treat each student as an individual.