Complaint Regarding Rental Experience In Cape Town, Strand

In December of the previous year, I identified a rental property in Cape Town, Strand, through a search on Property24. The property was listed by one of Seeff agents. Regrettably, due to work commitments, scheduling a viewing proved challenging for both the agent, and I was compelled to secure the rental remotely. Because i was desperate to secure a place so that have a place to stay when i come back in January 2024, i paid the rent and deposit when i was away during the December holiday to secure the place and signed a contract. Though i didn't view the place, I placed my trust in Seeff Properties, a reputed and established brand.

Upon my return from the December holidays, I visited the property in the first week of January 2024 to collect the keys. To my dismay, the condition of the apartment did not align with the representations made during the listing. The overall cleanliness was below standard, and the property exhibited signs of neglect and aging that were not evident in the adverti*****t. Unfortunately, critical aspects such as a leaking shower, malfunctioning toilet cistern, dirty and dusty carpet, and issues with windows and sliding doors became apparent only upon my physical inspection.

In response to these concerns, I promptly communicated with the agent, requesting that the landlord address these issues before the 8th of January, as I was scheduled to commence my occupation at that time. However, despite my efforts, the agent informed me on the 8th that the necessary repairs would not be conducted. Furthermore, I was given the option to terminate the lease, but I would still be charged rent for January, despite being unable to occupy the premises due to its uninhabitable condition.

Reluctantly, we agreed to cancel the lease, and while my deposit was refunded, I was charged rent for January, a decision I find unjust considering the circumstances. I feel ****med by the agent/ landlord, because i believe the lease agreement we had was bridged, moment they refused to make the place livable and failure to ensure the property meets the standards outlined in our rental agreement, but they still used the same lease to take my money even though i never occupied the place.

I am writing to formally register my dissatisfaction with the handling of this matter. I believe it is reasonable to expect that a property adheres to the standards outlined in the rental agreement, particularly when remote leasing decisions are necessitated.