Swindling Real estate agents the get away with it

I feel so powerless right now and it grates me that there is, to my knowledge, very little I can do about it. Here is why: 2018 was a rough year I faced possible retrenchment and though I was thankfully able to remain with my company I had to move from Edenvale/Germiston to Mookgophong (Naboom). There were time constraints as the company wanted me to move by end May 2018. The first and only opportunity I had of coming to look for a place to stay was the weekend of 12 & 13 May 2018. I checked out properties for rent online but only found listings for Modimolle so I made booking with an agent and planned my trip. Someone then also gave me the number for Pretorius Properties who told me they had a house for me to look at and I booked a viewing. I settled on this property viewed once only here in Moopkophong, despite perceived problems as I wanted to be close to work. I firmly believe the Agent identified and exploited my situation. Something which has continued throughout my first year in town. I signed the lease with numerous verbal promises from the agent that the black mold in the shower and on bedroom wall (which the agent tried to shield form my view on 12 May 2018) and various other issues would be sorted out and the house painted by the time I arrived. I paid (rent and deposits) by the 25th of May 2016 and then moved on Saturday 26 May 2016. Neither agent nor owner met with me upon arrival and when I phoned Mr Burger he told me he had hidden the keys in the garage. Entering the house, I found the following major issues: - Leaking toilet that also blocked every time one used it for more than urinating - Black mold remained in the shower - Only the wall that was blackened by mold in the main bedroom was pained - Decayed sprinkler system leaking profusely. - The lights that worked flickered on and off - Roof collapsing slowly. - Aircons not functional - Ceiling sagging. - Boundary wall collapsing - Shade netting perishing - Geyser old with perishing pressure valve - No formal invoicing Unfortunately, my moving coincided with a municipal strike here and I spent my first week here without water. I also found that every other tap and some drainage pipe in and around the house leaked. When I signed the lease, I asked about a water tank and was lead to believe I would be liable for installing it. I began taking pictures and video clips of the faults as I found them and sending the agent updates via e-mail. For the most part I was ignored and would only receive replies when threatening to withhold payment when they would show up in force and ‘quick fix’ their way through the house resulting in some of the work having to be redone. With all the people running through my house a number of small items have disappeared and the agent went as far as climbing over a locked gate he had painted the week before to do work at the house without notification or consent. Every time I would bring new problems to their attention I had to hear how the owner could not afford repairs and how they had already laid out huge amounts themselves. These delaying tactics caused the following major problems to persist up to the dates stipulated: - Leaking toilet from 26 May to 6 June. - Leaking Sprinkler system, taps and drainage pipes – 26 May to 2 July and not all were repaird. - No use of stove or oven – 26 May to 28 June. It reached the point where the agent told me I was in breach of contract if I did not pay and I started asking for a good lawyer’s details and contacted the EAAB for assistance. EAAB referred me to the housing Tribunal. The Tribunal dragged their feet and when I had no other recourse and withheld the rent they turned the case into an arrears rental dispute. Faan Burger did not even have the decency to attend this meeting. The Tribunal didn’t even come to inspect the house. The best solution both could come up with is that I move! It has been an uphill battle to get some of the issues resolved but the intimidation continues. I only received formal invoicing the last two months and mostly late. Saw the municipal invoice for the first time ever this month – completely incorrect and their excuse is that they cannot take readings with absolutely no effort being made to remedy the situation. They keep showing up at the property unannounced resulting in damages no one can explain. They expect me to be happy with and 80 something man who is not as qualified plumber coming to fix the geyser I am still constantly reminded of the financial troubles of the owner while they (although they are in breach of contract and have been from day one) expect the full rent every month! On the 4th of April 209 they sent me an e-mail claiming that the roof repair claim has been turned down by the insurers and that the owner will have to pay for it out of her own pocket (which is empty) Today (8th April 2019) I receive a mail giving me 2 months’ notice seeing that the contract comes to and end on 31 May 2019 and as the repair work on the roof will commence on the 5th of June 2019. Also, in the mail of (4-4-2019) the owner wanted to arrange a meeting with the agent and me, but in today’s mail the owner cannot be bothered by the tenant. I cannot by wonder what lies they have told both the owner and myself. Still they expect that I should believe and trust them when they invoice me for electricity one person could not possible have used up, and after all that has transpired. I have no doubt that they will now find a most colorful way of swallowing up my deposit and the interest it has earned in this year. Please for peace of mind STEER CLEAR OF PRETORIUS PROPERTIES!