Celebration Retirement Village Northgate.

Read until the end: A year ago we moved my Partners Folks to Celebration Lifestyle Retirement Estate by Northgate on a rental basis. What an amazing place. Frail Care, Chair Aerobics, Beautiful Gardens, Restaurant. Sold on the idea of Low rental, 2 meals a week, low levies etc. We took a years lease agreement. We would be renting through Central Developments. Life is good. Folks feel like they are on holiday. Three months in, levy increase, R30 which is ok, costs go up. Six months in, Central Developments have sold the apartment to an investor, we would be subject to a R2000 increase in rent, that's 25%, if we sign an agreement for the next two years. Now generally its approximately 10% a year if you were renting from a Landlord but now its the investor who wants that rent. We fought a bit, but we accepted it because the folks are happy blah blah blah, Frail care etc. We received a Debi Check mandate to approve which was R1500 more than the new agreed rent. We fight again, and I reject the Debi Check. They resend a new Debi Check for the correct amount. Great! We are getting there. With due diligence I pay the remaining deposit to bring the initial deposit in line with the new rent. This morning we receive an SMS that they will be debiting my account tomorrow with the Rental amount and the deposit I paid!!! But I approved a Debi Check for the right rental value, at a fixed rate, nothing more nothing less. My bank cant do a thing about it. I don't understand why the Debi Check is done in the first place then if the Creditor is going to Debit what they like anyway. I phone Central Developments, my deposit when to the wrong account and will re-imburse me. That is not the problem! The problem is they can debit any amount they want to and not the approved amount. ie if they do plumbing maintenance, or a blocked drain, etc etc, they can just add it onto the rental and debit. Be careful with Celebration, ask the right questions as their really aren't up front from the beginning. The Estate is wonderful but comms leaves much to be desired.