Not so Fine & Country

Very bad experience as a tenant with Fine & Country JHB North West. I believe I have been a good tenant during my stay in Weltevredenpark, Dolfhout street 36. I ensured that the property was well maintained, and ensured that the property was kept in good condition. I moved out on the 15th of January, and did my complete sign off and inspections on the 25th of January. Reaching the end of my lease, a complete and thorough inspection was done of the property. Both the agent and I signed off with zero defects and where defects were detected when I moved in I repaired it at my own cost. (plumbing leaks within the kitchen, faulty locks etc.) The Landlord even phoned me and told me that he wished I would not leave as I was a great tenant.

I then inquired about my deposit with Fine & Country, upon which I was told that I should speak to the landlord.

I paid my deposit & first months rent into Fine & Country's account on the 15th of January 2018, (Total amount was R8800 (Deposit)+ R7800(First Months rent) The total of R17 740) According to the lease agreement if the deposit is given to the agent they must invest it in an interest bearing account.

I then contacted the landlord, and received no response. I kept following up, however no response. I waited the required 14 days as per the lease agreement, before I started asking again. The agent kept on telling me that it is between me and the landlord.

I finally got some response in which the landlord said he is waiting for people to do the final reading calculations. This was on Friday the 15th of February.

On the 26th of February I received a payment of R6152.02 (It seemed a bit low, and asked for a breakdown of the deductions). Looking at the breakdown of this, I was charged for an electrician call out, and repairs to plugs within the house, there was also a R350 charge for rubble removal. The house was signed off and inspected by me and the agent, and all plugs was in working order. The Agent tells me that it could have been caused by lightning as they had some heavy storms in the area. I was also not contacted about the alleged faulty plugs, nor was I given a chance to repair this if it was indeed faulty and those repair costs were just deducted from my deposit. There was a R350 rubble removal charge, and this charge was to move the full dustbin outside for refuse removal. (Refuse is collected on Monday's, was it expected of me to leave the dustbin outside the premises for a week?) I also noticed that the meter readings were only taken on the 19th of February, more than a month after I had moved out and was charged almost double the amount I paid the previous month. (R1447.98, compared to R833.16 of the previous month). In addition to this, my Deposit was NOT held in an interest bearing account. Which is a breach of contract on both the Agent and Landlords part. As it is clearly stated within the lease agreement. When asking about the interest and the details thereof, I get no response other than, the dispute is between myself and the landlord and the landlord does not respond. Fine & Country stated that they did receive my payment, however after their deductions, the deposit and remainder of the monies was paid over to the landlord. When I ask for them to send me the proof of payment, they cannot provide me with the details, and have to look at their archives...

So what am I to do?

I would advise against using these agents. I am getting no assistance from them what so ever, although they were my single point of contact ever since I moved in. in my eyes, I did not contact the landlord, I contacted Fine & Country, and now that they have their money, i am nothing in their eyes.

Only when I logged on to Hello Peter did I see the numerous amounts of complaints by tenants against Fine & Country. I am sick and tired of dishonest people in South Africa. Although the amounts owed to me are not that much, I feel that they are doing this to a lot of people, and surely those amounts accumulate.

Further steps will be taken, and letters of demand are being sent out to the landlord.