Thieving Agents

Hello

In December 2017 I entered into a 3 month rental agreement with Umhlanga Rentals for an apartment in Umhlanga at Manhattan Mews on 69 Meridian Drive. I notified my land lord at the start of the Month that I would not be renewing my lease when it ends as I would be relocating to another place.

When my lease ended a representative sent by the leasing agent came to inspect the premises while I was there and gave me the green light that everything was good, the only follow up they made with me was that they found a gold watch on the premises in one of the cupboards. At which point I notified them that I had found the watch in the apartment when I moved in (the agent/landlord hadn't done an inspection of the apartment in between the old tenant moving out and me moving in). There was no mention of any damages and I had left the apartment as I had found it.

I moved out of the apartment on the 31st of March 2018 at 8:00AM and didn't hear anything what so ever from the agent or the land lord after that. On the 12th of April I sent a whatsapp message to the agent asking when I could expect my deposit as I hadn't heard anything from them since I moved out. He responded and asked for my banking details (after questioning whether the deposit belonged to me in the 1st place) which I then sent to him. On Monday the 16th I hadn't received anything, when I followed this up with him he said I would get it on Tuesday or the Wednesday. On Wednesday evening when I received the deposit approximately R3000 was missing from the original amount I had paid.

When I asked the agent about this he said that, it is the land lord that pays back the deposits not the agent but he would send the statement. When I received the statement on the following day. It had never mentioned before damages deducted from my deposit, it had a utility deduction from the rental deposit even though I had paid a utility deposit.

I feel like I am being cheated because as I have mentioned: - Flat wasn't inspected by the land lord prior to me moving in. - The agent inspected the flat with me the day I moved out and sent no notification to me about any damages during any time. - I notified them I wouldn't be renewing my lease. - I asked them for evidence of the utility bill and the repairs they conducted (even though I don't feel like they are relevant because they weren't highlighted to me until I saw missing money from my deposit.