1 reviews | Active since Mar 2025
City Property charges long standing tenants more than new tenants for the same unit
I am a tenant at Les Nize Flats, Sunnyside, on a two year lease with no missed payments. I received a renewal notice increasing my rent from R4,650 to R4,929 from 1 October 2026. When I queried this, I was first told the increase was R179. I then pointed out that R4,650 plus R179 is R4,829, not R4,929, so the figures did not add up. I was then told the R179 was actually the difference between R4,929 and a "market rental" of R4,750, an amount I have never paid on my account. This was never explained upfront and only came out after I questioned the numbers directly. It took several emails before I was finally given the real calculation, a 6% escalation app**** to my actual current rent of R4,650. This should have been the first explanation, not the fourth. I also raised a concern that was never properly addressed. I was told rentals differ between tenants based on when their lease started, and that a new tenant applying for the same unit type would currently pay R4,750, which is less than the R4,929 I am now expected to pay as a returning tenant of two years. I asked why a tenant who has stayed longer and paid consistently on time is charged more than someone applying fresh for the same unit, and I have not received a clear answer to this.I am not disputing that escalations happen. My concern is that it took this much back and forth to get an honest, accurate answer, and that the pricing structure appears to penalise long standing tenants compared to new ones for the same unit.
City Property Support Team
City Property Support Team
That said, I still think the bigger issue is worth raising. With annual increases compounding over time, long-standing tenants can end up paying more than someone applying fresh for the same unit. The consultant I spoke to even mentioned that this is something a number of other tenants have raised concerns about.
I understand that costs increase every year, but perhaps the company should also consider how much the rent is being increased by as a percentage and the impact this has on existing tenants. If tenants are raising concerns about this, I believe those concerns should be listened to because we are customers too. Moving between units or buildings simply to avoid higher increases is not always practical and comes with its own costs and disruption.
My original concern about being overcharged has been addressed, but I remain concerned about the overall approach to annual increases and the fact that loyalty can end up costing tenants more.
That said, I still think the bigger issue is worth raising. With annual increases compounding over time, long-standing tenants can end up paying more than someone applying fresh for the same unit. The consultant I spoke to even mentioned that this is something a number of other tenants have raised concerns about.
I understand that costs increase every year, but perhaps the company should also consider how much the rent is being increased by as a percentage and the impact this has on existing tenants. If tenants are raising concerns about this, I believe those concerns should be listened to because we are customers too. Moving between units or buildings simply to avoid higher increases is not always practical and comes with its own costs and disruption.
My original concern about being overcharged has been addressed, but I remain concerned about the overall approach to annual increases and the fact that loyalty can end up costing tenants more.
City Property Support Team
City Property Support Team