DESPICABLE HARRASSMENT AND ABUSE BY REAMAX MARINE, RICHARDS BAY- LATE OCTOBER TO VACATING END OF JANUARY TO DATE FOR REFUND OF DEPOSIT

Remax Marine has abused me from the time I started rented a property through them towards the end of October 2025. I could not talk through the Estate Agent as she was playing hide and sick, BUT the company just connects you to their Maintenance Department for property repairs and faults found during ingoing inspection. Their inspector treated me like a nonentity, deciding what the Landlord would repair and what she would not and did not give me the same list. So the landlord was immovable, she stuck by this lady's list. Without inspection the said Inspector compiled a list of what was repaired, and no matter how much I contested it she was not moving. You know, when you pay rental above R12500, you never expect to be treated like dirt. The Principal never interferes to correct the relevant employees. My experience was so terrible that I told them that their ill-treatment is pushing me out of the property. It was like pouring water on a duck. The bone of contention was mainly outstanding repairs and repairs of thing we found out as we used the property, like leaking kitchen sinks where we had to use basins inside, as the guy who assisted the landlord with repairs, so-called "contractor" indicated it was wear and tear, so the pipes needed total overhauling. I cannot recount the many breaches of contract by the Property Manager/Landlord. THey are so harsh you feel like you are staying gratis, paying just above R12500 rental

I ended approaching the attorney so as to submit early cancellation of Lease Agreement due to the Landord/Remax Marine as Property Manager. It was really intollerable.

I am just giving a summary here and I will just some quote content extracted from the Attorney's letter of Notice of Early Cancellation:

"The cancellation is occasion by, inter alia, the landlord’s failure to attend to and remedy material defects identified during and after the entrance (ingoing) inspection, despite these defects having been recorded and brought to the landlord or his/her agent.

The landlord’s continued failure to remedy these defects within a reasonable period of time despite demand constitutes a repudiation and/or material breach of the lease agreement and has materially affected our client’s use and enjoyment of the premises. Despite allowing a reasonable opportunity for the defects to be addressed, the majority of them remain unresolved.

In light of the above, our client hereby exercises her statutory right to cancel the agreement. For the avoidance of doubt: 1. This is not a cancellation for convenience. 2. No cancellation penalty is payable whether in terms of the lease agreement, section 14 of the Consumer Protection Act, or its regulations. 3. Our client shall remain liable only for rental and any due and payable utilities up to the effective cancellation date. Any attempt to levy cancellation penalties or to withhold the deposit on that basis will be resisted, and our client reserves the right to pursue appropriate relief, including through the Rental Housing Tribunal or a competent court."

But they are continuing with their dirty tricks charging me for Placement whereas the Landlord/Property Manager, Remax breached the contract, and they found the tenant immediately, retaining the cleaning deposit whereas we left the house ***** and span, better than when we entered it. Anyway we kept it clean asif it is ours during ours stay. On occupation we did not complain that it was not cleaned for our moving in as our occupation was an emergency. We cleaned it ouselves, that is with my daughter and my grandkids, even areas which lacked attention like most windows and we were with the Inspector for moving out, now they are retaining R800 cleaning fee I paid. Worst of all they are making me pay for a toilet seat cover I found loose in the Main-en-Suite and cracked at its back such that I had to be cautious to clean it at the back, now they say that wrecked thing was broken by me.

Despite my many attempts to have them correct all these things they want to refund me about R3000 instead of about R12900. Had I seen their reviews before moving in I would not have used Remax Marine, Richards Bay. Apparently they make profit out of mistreating and illtreating people

And my experience now in our country RSA, is that companies care less about the treatment of customers/clients well and fairly because Statutory Bodies regulating them have no teeth, or they take their side, That includes Ombudsman, PPRA in this case. Why should they worry instead of wearing you out so you give up if the following is in the PPRA's statements. "Please take note of the following:

This complaint initiates an investigation that could lead to the institution of disciplinary proceedings against the respondent Property Practitioner. The PPRA does not have the authority to, inter alia: order the estate agent to reimburse, or pay damages to, the complainant; or cancel, interpret or enforce a contract; or prevent an eviction; or order any party to do, or to refrain from carrying out, any action; or stop or intervene in any civil proceedings instituted against the complainant; or resolve labour disputes.

So, how does complaining help? I HAVE FOUND MANY SOUTH AFRICAN STATUTORY BODIES TO FAVOUR THE "POWERFUL ORGANISATION", NOT THE GRASSROOT CUSTOMERS, I have pesonal experience with most of them. They play you together with the company/organisation, and worse for financial insitutions like Banks and Insurance companies.

And even for them to move about deposit refund I remined them around 20 February, having vacated on 31 January 2026.

This is painful, but when you check the Laws like, in this instance, Rental Housing Act, they protect the Landlord/Service Provider, and say less about what happens if it is the Landlord who breaches the contract. What recourse does the tenant have. PLEASE HELP!!!! THIS IS DAYLIGHT *******!!!!