TENANTS FAQ's

We look at the gross income of yourself and your spouse/partner and multiply it by 30% to obtain the maximum amount. Your other financial obligations will then also be taken in to account.

If you are presently a tenant, then check your Lease Agreement for how many months notice you must give your present Landlord. We at La Grande normally require our tenants to give us at least two months written notice, prior to the expiring date of the lease, informing us whether they want to enter into a new lease agreement or not.

Application forms will normally be handed to you personally or sent to you via e-mail or fax or down loaded from our website. As soon as your completed application forms are received by us, it will be processed by ourselves. When filling out the forms, please ensure that you have telephone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses of references, as this will help speed up the process. In order to minimise any potential delays with your application, please complete and sign the application form. As soon as this signed document is received we will do a verification check on your ID.; establish your payment behaviour with TPN, if available, and do a credit check with registered credit bureaus.

If the Landlord has given permission for pets to be kept at the rental property, then an once of amount will be added to the deposit amount. This sum may vary according to the requirements of the Landlord and the number and size of the pets to be kept at the property. This figure will be confirmed, to you, prior signing of the Lease Agreement.

Should you whish to have your lease extended, you have to inform us, in writing, at least two months prior to the expiry date of your current lease. You will then have to enter into a new Lease Agreement. There will be an administration fee for your account to enter into a new Lease Agreement. Your account will be credited with your exciting deposit amount plus interest earned and then debited with the new deposit amount. Payable on the first of the month in which the new Lease Agreement starts.

The Rental Act and case laws applicable to the lease of residential properties are changing on a regular basis. In order to adapt/comply with the new laws, we have to update our lease agreements as and when advised by attorneys, from time to time.

The Deposit plus the first months rent plus an once of administration fee is to be deposited, and cleared by the bank, into our bank Trust Account. Normally the deposit amount is equal to one and a half months rent. See “Costs and Fees” for the amount you have to take in consideration when drawing up your budget.

You can pay by any means as long as the bank clear the funds without any deductions on or before the due date, i.e. the first of the month. Please note that banks take up to 10 working days to clear a cheque. Cash deposits into our account will incur bank fees for your account. It is recommended that you make use of an Electronic Fund Transfer.

For a progress report on your application or for any queries, please feel free to contact your agent who showed you the property.

Your rental deposit is deposited in to our Trust Account and managed as prescribed by The Estate Agency Affairs Board.

We will personally hand over the keys to you, at the home you will be renting, on the day the lease starts (i.e. the first of the month)

This will be clearly defined in your Lease Agreement, but when in doubt, please feel free to ask us.

If the home is not fitted with a satellite dish, you as tenant will have to arrange and pay all costs concerned i.e. supply and install of the satellite dish. Written permission must be obtained from the Landlord before commencing with the dish installation.

This aspect is normally negotiable between Tenant and Landlord.

Residential properties are zoned by the local authorities for residential purposes only. This aspect has to be dealt with before you sign your lease agreement. Access controlled and security complexes are very strict regarding this matter.

You have to insure your own property. The house plus fixtures will normally be insured by your Landlord. In the event that the house burns down, due to your neglect, you may find that the Landlord's insurance company will claim damages from you.

If the rent is not paid on the due date, you will be in breach of your Lease Agreement. The situation can lead to the Landlord cancelling your Lease Agreement and/or blacklisting you, which will have a detrimental effect on your ability in obtaining any credit facilities and/or an alternative house to rent. In the event that your personal situation has changed then please discuss your situation with your agent or landlord. Do not wait until you cannot service your rental account.

When tenant and Landlord disagree on the amount that are to be deducted from the rental deposit, either party can lodge a complaint with the Rental Housing Tribunal with a view to resolve the dispute. The Rental Housing Act describes the procedure that has to be followed in such a case.

Ask the agent whether he/she can show you his/her registration certificate/card or you can check on the Estate Agency Affairs Board's website www.eaab.org.za whether the agent and his/her agency is registered with the Estate Agency Affairs Board.