Unfair treatment by Lemon Tree Central Development

I have been renting at the Lemon Tree apartments in Pretoria east for the past year through a company called Central Developments.

I want the tenants there to know if future tenants to know my story and to PLEASE TAKE MY ADVICE....

I’ve had arrears issues with them from day one because of one of the estate agents, Stef****, whom I dealt with when I moved him. Him being my agent, I trusted and went by whatever was said before I moved in.

Firstly, my fault for not thoroughly going through the lease myself, but from past experiences through the years, dealing with professionals, I thought specifics on the lease will be highlighted by the agent. But like I said, it was my fault for not reading through the fine lines myself. My rent was paid on time every single month but because I realized much later that a debit order was signed for and I was being charged because the rental wasn’t going off via debit and I was manually transferring. I tried rectifying this by telling the agent that you will not find money in my account on the 25th, but only on the last day of the month. I filled in a form and only to find out a few months later that he did not send it to the necessary people. I queried it again and I said I will not pay for some of the arrears as this is not my fault. Fell on deaf ears. I was still being charged. Queried again, correct for was sent. Filled it in. Still wasn’t changed until the month after. I still ran after them trying to sort out this issue with Bianca. Even contacted Karel. I eventually drove to the Midrand offices to speak to Bianca to sort this issue out because the amount was escalating. She said to me that she cannot help me then because she is unable to take me to her office. She will send me a recon and I should rectify that. Which I did. Still no help from her. I insisted that we have a meeting so we can come to a conclusion regarding this amount.

Before the meeting i was locked out of my unit. Nobody knew who was responsible for that apparently. Gift had unlocked my unit and was quiet puzzled as to why this happened more especially because I had emailed Bianca first thing that Monday morning explaining that August rental couldn’t be paid just yet because my bank card was cloned. That evening I deposited atleast R4000.

The following day I received a call saying that I’ve been supoeinared (terrible spelling?) by this company did not paying my rent and and and. I was in complete shoc****! I couldn’t understand what was going on. I spoke to Matthew from the tribunal and explained my story to him from day 1!! He was speechless. He was horrified by the fact that I was locked out of my unit especially after he instructed them NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION until the day of the hearing. He pleaded with me to PLEASE be there for the hearing and explain my story because this is against the law. And I tod him that I have a meeting in Midrand to discuss this outstanding amount. He was very puzzled.

Went to the meeting at the Midrand office and a huge amount was dropped. From 9k something to R4400.

Following day I receive an emai with the correct amount owing and a notice for termination of my lease. Well they won’t be renewing it. I was speechless! This was just UNBELIEVABLE!!

Where do I go in a month?!!

Went to the hearing at the tribunal, Some useless guy by the name of Zaine, APPARENTLY, he’s the new office manager, lol, was representing his company, who was ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS about what was happening. All he had a mouth for was that I wasn’t paying my rent. He was clueless about the meeting where a ridiculous amount was dropped down drastically and as to WHY there was an outstanding amount. He told the panel that I was owing about 10****!! My mouth just dropped open ?? I was asked if this was correct, I said absolutely not!!! He said October’s rent was added to that amount! ??? The panel couldn’t understand why because we were there to sort out an arrears. He felt so stupid! The amount was corrected. I told the panel that I was locked out of my unit by Zaine who was apparently instructed by Karel to do so. I told the panel that Lemon Tree has a gate and on that gate has two locks. Bottom one for the tenant and top one for the landlord. You don’t pay rent or you in arrears, landlord locks the top making it impossible to get into YOUR home!!!! The panel could NOT BELIEVE what I was saying! That is AGAINST THE LAW!! That is jail time for the landlord!!!

Tenants who are going through what I went through, they ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LOCK YOUR GATE!! It is *******! Interest fees on your statement is NOT ALLOWED!!! The panel told Zaine it is not allowed but I STILL RECEIVED A STATEMENT WITH INTERESTS FEES WHICH IVE TAKEN UP WITH THE TRIBUNAL. Tenants? You have RIGHTS TOO!! DO NOT BE TOLD OTHERWISE. These people are BULLIES AND ZAINE IS A VERY HEARTLESS AND A TERRIBLE PERSON!!!

It’s unfortunate that there’s nothing I can do with regards to them ending my lease. Unfortunately. But regarding the locking and the gate issue, it is being dealt with.

Also, there are other agents apart from Central Development that you can rent from I think. Just do your homework and please avoid these people. ESPECIALLY if you are not one of ‘them’.

There are two sides to EVERY STORY. But not with Central Development. They are all for THEIR people. It’s only one sided with them. Even Karel was told that I don’t want to pay my rent and I told him that was NEVER THE CASE. As a so called owner, he didn’t even take the initiative to try and hear the other side of the story and be decent about the outcome. But they don’t care if you have a family, kids, nothing. They are just there for the money. And a lousy 6k too. Such a huge company can cry for small change? Cmon guys? Karma is a *****!! Don’t be heartless. It’s so not worth it.

Thank GOD, our approval came through for our house just at the right time and we expecting a baby. Atleast both my kids will be in a secure home and not surrounded by negativity.