Served with a protection order
Unpacking the process
BY SIMON DIPPENAAR
M ost landlords and tenants enjoy harmonious relationships and hopefully yours is no different. However, occasionally, relations break down and one or other party invokes the law. Sometimes legal action is legitimate; sometimes it is malicious, and sometimes it is just a desperate measure. If you are a landlord and have been served with a protection order by your tenant, what does this mean and what should you do about it?
Why a tenant might take action against a landlord
It’ s important to understand how two parties might arrive at a legal impasse, such as the serving of a protection order, and thus how to avoid it in future.
The Protection from Harassment Act 2010 affords victims of harassment the right to seek remedy for such behaviour, and this includes enacting a protection order against the perceived harasser.
While some of these instances might be unintentional on the landlord’ s part, it is important to uphold the conditions of the lease. In this way, it is possible to avoid the accidental appearance of harassment.
On the other hand, the landlord may have a legitimate reason for evicting the tenant or not renewing the lease. The tenant may have no alternative accommodation available and may instead claim harassment, take out a protection order against the landlord, and attempt to secure occupancy in this manner. It is important to consider that the tenant may be acting out of desperation and try to resolve the matter without proceeding to trial. Let’ s look at the process.
Interim protection order
Where a complaint of harassment is laid, the complainant is entitled to immediate protection, but this does not mean it is final and permanent. The provisions of the Protection from Harassment Act closely mirror those of the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998, which were structured to ensure a victim of domestic violence could seek urgent shelter from the threat of an abuser.
Seek legal advice
At this stage the landlord should read the document very carefully. Is it an interim protection order or just an enquiry by the magistrate? In either case, and definitely in the case of a temporary order, the best course of action is to seek legal advice. It may be tempting to phone the tenant directly, especially if there is a history of an amicable relationship, but this is an unwise move.
Only a lawyer is in a position to ascertain whether the grievance is legitimate or not. The attorney may contact the complainant or their representative to attempt to reach a peaceful resolution out of court, but this is not a step that should be taken by the respondent directly.
If an amicable settlement cannot be reached between the two parties‘ offline’, the attorney will prepare a notice of intention to oppose the order and draft the corresponding affidavit. Landlord and tenant will go to court on the return date and hopefully settle the matter there and then. In the majority of cases this is the end of the process. Occasionally, where relations between the two are particularly acrimonious, the magistrate will set a trial date.
Costs
While most accusations of harassment involve misunderstanding or desperation, in rare instances there is an element of malicious intent. In such cases it may be possible for the respondent to recover costs on the basis of an illegitimate action. However, where the case is unfounded it is usually resolved without going to trial and incurring court costs.
Prevention is better than cure
Resorting to legal measures is unpleasant for all involved. The Rental Housing Tribunal in your area can provide advice and support to tenants and landlords alike.
Rental Housing Tribunals were established to resolve disputes and the services, which are free of charge, are available to all parties in the rental housing sector, including property agents.
The tribunals deal with issues such as non-payment of rent, unacceptable living conditions, intimidation, lack of maintenance, illegal lock-out and many other complaints that might lead to a charge of harassment.
Simon Dippenaar is an attorney at Simon Dippenaar & Associates, Cape Town
SOURCES evictionlawyerssouthafrica. co. za, sdlaw. co. za
26 OCTOBER 2017 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine