IS EVICTION LEGAL FOR PARTIAL ELECTRICITY BILL PAYMENTS
I am renting a granny flat and the landlord has given me notice to move due to unpaid municipal bills.
In my rental contract it states that i must pay a third of the ethekwini bill. i never receive a bill and get an amount from the neighbour in the main house that he works out himself from the meter reading and not the actual bill.
I have now received notice to move because of non payment of electricity bills but i have been paying more that a 3rds share.
I signed my lease agreement earlier this year, i emailed a copy back to the landlord, and 2 months later he arrives with a different rental contract for me to sign.
What can i do, i am a single mother of 2 and care for my elderly retired mother also.
regards
Jannine
1 Answer
It is an unfair practice for a landlord to unilaterally change a lease contract. It is equally unfair practice to be paying municipal bills without proper knowledge and insight regarding how your share of it is allocated. You are not in breach as you not behind with the payment of your share of the bill. Landlord cannot evict. Conversely, he is in breach in light of these unfair behaviours.
My suggestion is that you urgently lodge your complaint with the Rental Housing Tribunal. You can visit their website or 0860106166/ 0113554000/ 0124835020. You cannot be evicted under any circumstances while your complaint is being handled and addressed. You must however keep up paying rent.
You can inform him (landlord) your intention to approach the RHT if he does not remedy the breach.