Renter not reimbursed for repairs, because of favorable rent

<p>Follow up regarding John Dua Attorneys</p> <p>My last review was on 04/12/2015</p> <p>this was regrading the long process for the transfer.<br />Since then I have experienced diffrent problems as a renter (I did take up ocuupational rent in the house I purchased)<br />This issue had been going on before the house had been tranfered.</p> <p><br />Good day<br />This is a follow up letter regarding my issues with the purchase of my property. My last post regarding your law firm was due to my wife and I deciding on taking over the transfer process and to register the house in our own capacity as opposed to my mum’s.</p> <p>This process continued for 6 months before they decided to offer us a discount at 20% of the total transfer costs as compensation for the prolonged transfer process, due to administrative errors on their behalf.</p> <p>(This discounnt has not been refunded)</p> <p><br />During this time, we were allowed to occupy the property by paying rent at R2000.00 per month, which was a discounted amount granted by the Executor upon request by myself via John Dua Attorneys.</p> <p>Whilst staying on the property, we experienced heavy rains and this was when I noticed that the house had numerous unseen damages.</p> <p>These damages had not been disclosed to me when I viewed the house to place an offer.<br />The first issue I came across was the sewer pipes had been broken underground.</p> <p>The next issue was the roof leak and storm waters water leak. I immediately advised JohnDua Attorneys and submitted a claim requesting a plumber to come through and sort out the problem.<br />I was then informed by Dee (Employee of John Dua Attorneys) that I should send through a quotation. I got a response saying that the funds will be transferred<br />and we should take care of the problem. I had no problem with this and I managed the project on my own. Which had been solved. However, after the next set of heavy rains the roof had begun to leak on the other side.<br />The next issue that occurred was the regarding driveway.</p> <p>After heavy rains in the beginning of winter, the river below our house flooded and this caused the river to come over our driveway.</p> <p>This caused the driveway to get mined out as well as the other end of our roof to leak.<br />The rain continued through to Sunday which also caused the dense bush at the back of the yard to wash away, breaking down my new electric fence as well.<br />These issues were dangerous to my health and safety and had to be repaired immediately.<br />When I spoke to dee about the drive way, she informed me that the seller had agreed to pay for the damages to the driveway however, I did send a follow up mail to Mr John Dua requesting for the status of the payment.</p> <p><br />His reply was as follows:<br />Mail received on 29 April 2016 08:55pm<br />“Mr Govender I have seen your email and am not sure what payment you are referring to. I am perplexed at Dee's email and will ask her about it on Tuesday. I am totally unaware of any claim for a payment for driveway repairs, I am certain however that this will be resisted by the Seller having regard to the extremely favourable occupational rental and the fact that the property was purchased voetstoots. I suggest we arrange to meet next week to discuss as I am rather concerned at the trailing emails below.”<br />Upon my arrival at Mr Dua’s office, Mr Dua immediately asked me if I was there to complain about paying the R 2000 occupational rent, which is rather unprofessional. I rep**** by disagreeing and proceeded to advise him that I was unable to commence with renovations as the house was not mine to do so. Prior to that, he also had informed that due to the favourable rent he doesn’t think the owners will be willing to pay for the damages.<br />Being a renter I was under the impression that the land lord should be responsible for damages and maintenance to the property.</p>