can my landlord charge me extra for a guest stay with us?
can my landlord charge me extra for a guest staying with us? its a month to month lease with prepaid electricity. we have always paid rent before the agreed date. never had issues about upkeep and maintenance. my dad in law is visiting us for a bit and my landlords want to charge us extra per day he stays by us or he wants us all out. can they do that to us?
Category: Property, Rental Matters
Region: South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal
1 Answer
The Rental Housing Act does not permit overcrowding, and such can be a reasonable ground where a landlord can terminate a lease. Contract of lease usually include a provision to restrict the number of occupants in the apartment and failure to comply can be met with a penalty.This might explain why your landlord is surcharging daily. However, this can be challenged. You can address this concern through the Rental Housing Tribunal for a detailed clarification.
Amended by author 31st October 2017, 12:43
Not, no…that is not what I meant. Remember I said “contract of lease usually include a provision to restrict the number of occupants in the apartment” and I also said “this can be challenged” and lastly said “address this concern through the Rental Housing Tribunal for a detailed clarification”. You see, the provision in the lease agreement define tenants and landlords “dos” and”don’ts” but that does not meant thesee “dos” and “don’ts” are cast in stones and cannot be challenfed. In your case, I do not have the content of your contract before me hence my suggestion that you seek elaborate clarity from the RHT.