LEGAL
eviction process . If a tenant cannot afford a lawyer , they can seek assistance from Legal Aid South Africa or a pro bono attorney . Further information regarding Legal Aid is available online or from the Registrar of the High Court .
Understanding landlord responsibilities Landlords have a set of responsibilities towards their tenants . Legislation is motivated in part by past abuses and rental housing law ensures tenants cannot be exploited or unfairly treated .
Landlord legal procedures The PIE Act clearly defines the procedure the landlord must follow to evict a tenant . A property owner must not take the law into their own hands , for example by cutting the electricity or water supply to the property or intimidating the unlawful occupier into vacating the property .
A landlord can only consider eviction in the event of a breach of the lease agreement which the tenant has failed to rectify . If the lease is coming to its
51 JULY / AUG 2023 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine