New tenants Watch Out for Dipula Property Management

I manage Glamour By Zahra at the Blackheath Pavilion, where we have been tenants of Dipula since 2016. During the Covid pandemic, our store was closed for eight months, yet we were still obligated to pay full rental fees, levies, and utilities. This agency has shown zero compassion during this difficult time.

Eventually, we managed to negotiate a payment arrangement to incorporate our unpaid bills into our current ones. Since 2022, we have been diligently making extra payments to offset our debt, bringing it down from approximately 60k to around 6k this year. I’m deeply frustrated because Dipula exhibits no mercy, regard, or respect for their tenants. Louise and her team hide behind their investors and offer no support.

Our business faced a significant blow, compounded by the poor condition of the shopping center, which deters customers. The facilities are unkempt, with filthy toilets lacking hand soap and paper towels, all while we continue to pay levies. Additionally, in summer, we have to contend with large rodents, and since Covid, tenant stability has plummeted, partly due to Dipula's management and lack of transparency.

On November 19, 2024, Dipula disconnected the electricity in our shop, effectively preventing us from trading. This raises the question: how can they justify holding us liable for rent on a space we cannot use? I reached out to their office over 20 times, but the general manager, Paula, did not have the courtesy to return my calls or respond to my emails.

This type of bullying is simply unacceptable. Dipula stated that our electricity was cut off due to unpaid bills, but the 6k owed is from Covid-related arrears. It feels like they prey on tenants like us, casting us as victims in this situation.

I strongly advise anyone considering an agreement with Dipula, especially at Blackheath Pavilion, to ask why previous tenants have left and why current businesses struggle to generate sufficient revenue. They consistently belittle tenants and diminish our contributions to their property.