Tilo Resident - Student Accommodation

Unsatisfied Parent

I am writing to formally raise a concern regarding the accommodation services provided by Tilo Residence, located at Stand No. 348, Mamotintane, Turfloop, Polokwane, near the University of Limpopo. The property is owned by Ms. Jamela Maswanganyi. I arranged accommodation at this residence for my two sons, who were enrolled at the University. They moved into the property in February. Unfortunately, from the outset, the standard of service and living conditions at the residence were unsatisfactory. Among several issues, the window in their room did not close properly, and the drawers were also not closing properly. These concerns were reported to the on-site caretaker, yet no action was taken to address them. Additionally, the location of the residence is significantly distant from the university campus. Although transport is provided, it consists of only one vehicle, which is regularly overloaded, particularly in the mornings, when the majority of students attend classes. Due to this limitation, one of my sons had to walk to and from campus daily, as the transport schedule did not align with his timetable. Given these ongoing challenges, we initially issued a notice for the boys to vacate the premises at the end of February. However, we were informed that a one-month notice period was required. Accordingly, a formal notice was then issued at the end of March for them to move out at the end of April. The monthly rental was R2,000 per person, with an initial refundable deposit of R1,000 per tenant. Upon informing the landlord of their decision to leave, she inquired about their reasons, which were clearly communicated. She responded that these complaints should have been addressed to her directly; however, they had already been reported to the caretaker without resolution. Other persistent issues during their stay included frequent lack of hot water and unreliable Wi-Fi connectivity. Since their departure, I have made several attempts via email and text to secure the return of the deposit. On April 4th, Ms. Maswanganyi acknowledged my query and stated that the refund would be processed by April 15th. However, no payment was made. I followed up via the same email thread, but received no response. On April 26th, I contacted her again, and she rep**** that she had not seen my previous emails and requested my banking details for payment, which I promptly provided. Despite giving her until Tuesday, April 29th, to process the refund, no payment has been received. Upon my most recent follow-up, her response was dismissive, stating that I may “do what I want to do,” and wished me well with the proceedings. I find this conduct unprofessional and unacceptable, and I am now left with no choice but to consider formal avenues to recover the outstanding funds. My intention has always been to resolve this matter amicably, but the continued delays and lack of cooperation have left me with limited options.