HEADACHE AT HARCOURTS!

Estate agents are generally reliable and professional - but my HARCOURTS experience shakes that notion! HARCOURTS (KZN) found a tenant for my vacant house in ASSA***. A one year lease was signed as from 1st March at an agreed rent. So far so good. The agent then called to ask whether the tenants (whose movements were uncertain) could move in a few days early - or later. The house was empty, so why not...only a pleasure. Can you believe that the agent sliced off 25% of the rent because the tenants drifted in on the 8th March?! That's from April's rent too because the agent took the whole of the first months rent as commission! There was NO warning that money would be deducted for not arriving on due date? What if they'd arrived on the 15th? Or 25th? Or months later? Do HARCOURTS leases not mean anything? Are they worthless? Will there be deductions if the tenants go away on holiday?! And the agent arrogantly sees nothing wrong with this absurdity! Maybe the EAAB will think differently!