Becareful when signing a contract with Fabulous Homes WeltenvredenPark area

I would like to warn people in the Weltenvreden Park, Strubens valley, Roodepoort area about the Agency Fabulous Homes. I have met CJ, one of the agents through a friend. CJ was very helpful and managed to help me to rent my house in Strubens Valley. When we spoke about the contract, I asked CJ what percentage of the rent do they take and I also asked about the deposit. He told me that they take 8% to manage the property and they take one months deposit. I then assumed that their contracts were the same as all the other agencies and only "read" quickly through the contract when I signed it. BIG mistake!!!

For the first 6 months the agency took 8% for the management fee, which we agreed to but later they started taking more.

When the tenants renewed the contract I received a letter saying that they are going to take another month's rent because the tenant renewed the contract. I contacted CJ and told him that this was not right and that this was the first time that an agency wants to take a deposit every time when the tenants renew their contract. CJ said that I must contact Renier, the Principal, to explain my grievances but I must remember that it is a business. He also became very impatient with me when I started talking about this issue.

I did contact the principal, Renier to voice my objection. At first he was willing to give me a discount on the deposit which they were planning to take. I, however, told them that it is not right for them to take another deposit because they already took the deposit when the tenants moved in. I also mentioned to Renier about the increase on the management fee. He then said yes, the increase is correct because they take 8% on the monthly fee plus the utilities the tenants use that month. I told him again that this was a first but he just said that that is how they do it. I spoke to different agencies and also to a lawyer about this and they ALL said that this is the first time that they have heard of this and that it isn't correct to take a deposit every time tenants renew their contract.

At the end, the tenants renewed the contract, they paid the money into the agency's account. The agency took the money, e-mailed me, saying that they have paid my levies and I owe them R4233.52.

When I went to review the contract again, I realised that it was in the contract.

I am writing this review because I want to warn people against Fabulous Home Agency and I want you to read the finer detail in your contract. When I did my calculations I realised that I paid more than 16.4 % for Fabulous Homes to manage my property. At the moment they refuse to take any of my calls and they are also not replying to any of my e-mails. Please don't make the same mistake I did.