Worst business to rent from

If I could rate my experience with Pretor zero stars, I would have. If you can avoid dealing with them, please do so.

I rented a flat at Scarlet Park. Despite the unit not being very good, Pretor's service is absolutely reprehensible.

Firstly the agent that marketed the flat to me(Mona Otto) was very unfriendly and not at all helpful. She wasn't very helpful, and was absolutely rude when my lease period at the flat ended, and not understanding of my schedule.

Secondly, when I tried to cancel my lease contract earlier(due to needing to move closer to my fiance and I's respective jobs), there was a three month cancellation fee - despite there only being two months of my lease contract remaining. When I mentioned this, they weren't willing to meet me in the middle with a pro rata adjustment to the cancellation fee.

Thirdly, I can not get my deposit back after the lease ended. It is now 19 days after moving out, and 21 days since the final inspection (we moved out earlier), and I still haven't received it. They even tried to deduct R500 for some mildew in the shower - which is just a ridiculous claim. The shower was clean, and I even offered to go clean it again myself, it will only take a few minutes. In fact, we left the whole unit in a much cleaner condition than when we got it. Pretor obviously doesn't clean their units after previous tenants move out and before new tenants move in.

The process of trying to get back my deposit has been extended unnecessarily with several petty processes and steps. Then I was also informed that it apparently takes 21 days until I will receive payment. It takes only a few minutes to make an EFT. And then they also deduct a "moving out fee", which in my case is R575. And that is above and beyond the admin fee which I paid when moving in.

Fourth, when the final inspection was to be done, the gentleman coming to do the inspection was very late.

This experience has been harrowing to say the least. I will never deal with Pretor again, and I would advise anyone else to avoid them as well. I will be approaching my attorney with this matter as it has wasted a lot of my time and due to all of the factors mentioned above, money.