Unfair Deposit Top-Up Demands & ******** Conduct by Casadobe Properties

They don’t even deserve 1 star.

Casadobe Properties decided to introduce a deposit top up after 10 years of my occupancy in this complex . I queried this with them with the dispute that they should introduce new terms to new tenants only , as I also adhered to their terms 10 years ago. The portfolio manager explained that this amount was meant to be charged to me annually over the years but it’s their fault this was not done so he decided to absorb this deposit top up. A new lease contract was drawn up without the deposit top up and I was happy to sign it.

This year when it was time to renew my lease , this deposit top up was reintroduced and now as an even bigger amount . I responded to advise that it was absorbed the previous year and resent all previous correspondence. They advised me that the manager who decided to absorb the deposit top up is no longer working there of which I responded to say that it doesn’t matter if he is not working there anymore as he had acted within authority at the time. They said that the Company policy has changed, as the landlord is making a loss upon vacating tenants. They need a larger deposit to cover damages to property. I did not agree to this deposit top up policy and insisted that the amount was absorbed and should not have been brought up again.

I asked that a manager responds or reaches out to me as I was tired of the back and forth with no solution to the issue at hand . In my last email to them , I agreed to the 10% rental increase and lease renewal fee and had advised that this would be what I will be paying and not the deposit top up.

No lease agreement was signed as nothing was agreed on . So every month I received an invoice with this top up included . I just continued to pay the rental amount as I advised them.

They would send different people to email me reminding me of the deposit top up that is overdue which I did not respond to.

They threatened me with credit bureau . I told them that my account is not in arrears , I have been paying my rent on time without default and they can’t take me to credit bureau for something I didn’t agree to. There is not an even a contract signed . My communication with them fell on deaf ears .

Last month I received an email and a what’s app message from TPN COLLECTIONS threatening me to pay the outstanding amount . I’m not sure what collections company would want to collect money without proof of a valid contract ( clearly it’s their friends).

The final straw happened when I bought electricity on my banking app for an amount of R1000. I only received 20 units instead of 250 units . When I queried this with PEC METERING, I was told to speak to my managing agent as they had loaded a debt against my electricity meter. I mean how low can you go CASADOBE PROPERTIES.

I know of neighbours who have refused to pay this deposit top up and CASADOBE PROPERTIES have happily removed the deposit top up from other tenant’s contracts. Some just query it and they are told it’s a mistake . So I guess it depends who you are and who you know.

This is not the way to treat your tenants. This is the worst rental agency I have ever dealt with. They are only after money and do not care about the needs of the tenants. Did I mention that in the 10 years I have lived in this property, they have never set foot here to inspect the property as expected by the law. But they are quick to introduce new ways of extracting more money from the tenants to safeguard themselves.

You will be hearing from my lawyers.