City of Tshwane MMC for human settlement Ald Aaron Maluleka photo supplied
By Aaron Maluleka
MMC Human Settlements
Residents of Tshwane are encouraged to use the free services of the Rental
Housing Tribunal to resolve rental housing disputes and to strengthen positive relationships between tenants and landlords.
The Rental Housing Tribunal is a statutory body established in terms of Section 7 of the Rental Housing Act No. 50 of 1999 and became operational in 2001.
The Tribunal serves as a provincial mechanism to resolve disputes and promote fair practices within the rental housing sector.
The Tribunal consists of ten (10) members and ten (10) mediators, all appointed by the Provincial Department of Housing.
Its core function is to provide accessible, efficient and impartial dispute resolution services.
Officials receive complaints lodged by tenants, landlords, property agents and
interest groups.
In addition to resolving disputes, the Tribunal conducts consumer education programmes and provides information and advice to tenants and landlords regarding their rights, responsibilities and obligations.
The Tribunal’s primary mandate includes investigating complaints through the
deployment of inspectors (e.g., maintenance-related issues) and mediating disputes between parties through independent mediators.
Officials are also mandated to educate stakeholders about rental housing rights and responsibilities.
The Tribunal handles a wide range of disputes which include maintenance issues, lockouts, rentals payable,
rental deposits, non-payment of rent, illegal evictions, constructive evictions, unlawful attachment of property, unlawful disconnection of services, damage to property,
harassment, intimidation and threats, house rules and nuisance complaints.
Tenants are obligated to pay rent on time, avoid damaging the property and to
refrain from subletting or overcrowding without the landlord’s consent, while
landlords are obligated to maintain the property in a habitable condition, not
unlawfully disconnect services, not evict tenants without following due legal process and to refrain from unlawful discrimination.
It is advisable to have a signed lease
agreement and that both the lessor and lessee adhere to the conditions of the lease agreement.
To lodge a complaint, the following documents are required, copy of ID, lease agreement, address of the dwelling and proof of rental payments.
All services rendered by the Tribunal are FREE of charge.
Tenants, landlords, property agents and interest groups may approach the Tribunal for assistance.
The Tribunal has eight information offices across the City of Tshwane:
City of Tshwane / Pretoria Information Offices Pretoria North is Akasia Information Office – Region 1
Information Office address: Room 109 1st Floor, Akasia Building, 16 Dale Avenue,
Karen Park / Tel. (012) 358 7453/4307
Sinoville Information Office – Region 2
Information Office address: Room 64, Kudu House, 240 Marija Street corner, Pafuri Street, Sinoville, Pretoria / Tel. (012) 358 3468 Pretoria Central
West Information Office – Region 3
Information Office address: 1st Floor, B-Wing. Tshwane House, 320 Lilian Ngoyi & Madiba Streets, Pretoria / Tel. (012) 358 3793
Pretoria Central Information Office – Region 3
Information Office address: 1st Floor, B-Wing. Room B10P02, Tshwane House, 320
Lilian Ngoyi & Madiba Streets, Pretoria / Tel. (012) 358 8852
Centurion & Laudium Information Office – Region 4
Information Office address: Tshwane Municipality Lyttelton, Cnr Basden & Rabie st, Entrance from Clifton Ave, Block A1, Room 130, Centurion / Tel. (012) 358 4293
Cullinan/Rayton and Refilwe offices – Region 5
Information Office address: 1st Floor, B-Wing. Tshwane House, 320 Lilian Ngoyi & Madiba Streets, Pretoria / Tel. (012) 358 3793
Pretoria East Information Office – Region 6
Information Office address: 1st Floor, B-Wing. Tshwane House, 320 Lilian Ngoyi & Madiba Streets, Pretoria / Tel. (012) 358 3730
Bronkhorspruit office – Region 7
Information Office address: 1st Floor, B-Wing. Tshwane House, 320 Lilian Ngoyi & Madiba Streets, Pretoria / Tel. (012) 358 3793
The Rental Housing Tribunal remains committed to ensuring fair and lawful practices in the rental housing sector and encourages all residents to make use of its free services.
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