PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
The True Cost of Bad Advice
• Illegal eviction shortcuts cost landlords fortunes- lawful, expert processes protect your property and reputation.
• Rental defaults are rising; fast, lawful action is the only way to limit financial damage.
• Xpello’ s R250 per month service resolves 98 % of breaches without costly evictions.
Marx has witnessed the consequences first-hand. Her firm regularly takes over cases where landlords have spent R10,000- R20,000 on unqualified eviction“ consultants” only to be left in legal limbo. When cases collapse at the Rental Tribunal or in court, landlords then face fresh legal costs on top of mounting arrears.
“ It’ s called the long arm of the law for a reason,” she says.“ It takes time, but if you follow due process, the courts will protect you. If you cut corners, you’ ll pay more in the end.”
A Sandton nightmare that cost R150,000
One of Marx’ s most harrowing cases involved a distressed Sandton homeowner in 2022. After months of unpaid rent and failed attempts with two other law firms, she turned to Marx in desperation.
The tenant not only refused to vacate but also lodged false racism charges, threatened to shoot both the landlord and Marx herself, and vandalised the property. Police and sheriffs had to forcibly evict him, only to find the interior trashed, cupboards ripped out, illegal water connections installed, and solar panels smashed.
The price tag? About R150,000 in damages and lost rent.“ This should never have escalated to that level,” Marx says.“ But because the landlord received bad advice early on, the situation spiralled out of control.”
Why speed and legality matter
Eviction under South Africa’ s PIE Act follows a strict process:
1. Letter of demand(± 20 business days). 2. Lease cancellation. 3. Court application for eviction.
42 REI MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2025