Water bill disputes with ownet
Good day. We moved into a house end of December 2016. In Feb we received the water bill and it was almost R9000. The owner wanted us to pay the whole bill. It turned out, she was behind on the water since Oct 2015. She could not prove how much water we used, and wanted us to pay a huge amount R2100. At that time the meter was read we were living there 14 days. In May we had a leaking pipe, I asked 4 times to have the pipe fixed. They never came to fix the pipe. After a month, we fixed it ourselves. Once again, huge bill that she wants me to pay. I’m afraid they are going to deduct this amount from my deposit. What can I do. P. S. The agent that rented out the place is also not a registered Estate agent
Category: Property, General Disputes
Region: South Africa, Nothern Province
1 Answer
Dear Marieza V, Please re-check your lease agreement in this regard especially in relation to disputes; utilities and deposit repayment. The best way to sort this out I submit is that you negotiate with the owner and then settle the issue in respect of what amounts are owed to whom and by whom in writing re-the original overpayment if any when you first moved in and then the May broken pipe repaired by yourselves, that is the costs involved in the repairs and their failure to repair timeously resulting in the huge bill and extreme loss of precious water. If the matter is not settled amicably you can take the issue up with the Rental and Housing Board and tip them off in respect of the agent who is “not registered”.
Amended by author 14th December 2017, 22:20
Dear M, I suggest you follow up on your complaint at the Rental and Housing Tribunal and also if the owner refuses to refund the deposit you can issue a summons through the small claims court in the area through the magistrates court at no cost for a settlement of this dispute.
Amended by author 14th December 2017, 22:54
Dear M, please keep book of all the comments or threats made by the owner as these may become relevant later if you need to issue the small claims court summons for your deposit As stipulated if you need to issue the summons you will have to disclose everything to the court.