Raw Deal Rawson

We, an elderly couple, have rented a property in Moreleta Park, for the last 4 years. The existing contract expires on 31 July 2024. We will not renew. Two key issues:

Overcharging. Rawson escalated the rent yoy to R12500 monthly for 12 months to 31 July 2024. The new rent in August will be R13000 for us as Rawson demands. Rawson also charges every 6 months an admin fee of approximately R800 The Rawson agent acknowledged that the rent of the unit was hopelessly too high for the area. Therefore, this older property is now advertised by Rawson for a rental of R11500 as from 1 August 2024.

Unreasonable Renovations. This unit is older and somewhat neglected, but we rented it for the last 4 years anyway. We looked after the unit as best we could. When we moved in the walls and doors were dirty, the carpets old and worn out, broken tiles (probably from the previous millennium) and the skirtings unpainted. We painted the doors and skirtings to make it livable. Rawson is forcing us, contractually, to renovate the property as new - painting walls, etc. and deliver certificates of professional contractors, even though the carpets are worn out.

Knowing very well what a fair rental would be, Rawson still overcharged us for at least the last 24 months to the end of July 2024. Also, knowing the state of the unit before us moved in, is forcing us through contractual fine print, to renovate it.

So sad, that Rawson (and probably the landlord), can be so ********* - exploiting older people.