FAQs

Your deposit is held in an EAAB registered agencies trust account. This will serve as insurance by the EAAB that your money is safe.

When signing the lease agreement, always make sure that there is an acceptable termination clause signed by both parties. Follow the instructions as set out in the termination clause to terminate your lease agreement.

The owner has the right to sell the property at any given time, however, the prospected buyers should have reasonable appointments to view the property. This does not affect your lease agreement.

The lease agreement by law will remain valid until the expiry date on the lease agreement, regardless of whether the property is sold or not. The new owner will remain responsible to respect the lease agreement unless another mutual agreement was made between yourself and the new landlord.

It all depends on the rental agent and or landlord, but it will be highly unlikely that they will approve you as this can be a potential risk.

The owner is responsible for the rates and taxes of the property unless otherwise agreed upon.

If the owner was given written notice of the fault and that you will proceed with the repairs if he fails to comply within 7 days. You are entitled by law to rectify the problem in order to return the property to the condition you received it in and recuperate your costs, if reasonable, against your monthly rental.

When you signed the lease agreement, the property was/is rented as presented to you. You cannot stop the owner from doing general maintenance but when the owner wants to do structural alterations, he should do so with your consent.

In extreme emergencies where you were unable to get a hold of the landlord, you can ask the owner for a refund as long as the costs are reasonable and that you have an invoice for the landlord.

The best advice is to open a case at the Rental Tribunal. All Provinces have a rental tribunal and handle cases where disputes arise between owners/agents and tenants. These cases are handled free of charge and are settled much quicker than normal court proceedings.

The law does not specify the deposit amount. It only states it should be a reasonable amount. Therefore, the agency policy or the particular owner will determine the amount. The credit worthiness of the applicant may also influence the deposit amount.

Yes, but there are special considerations to keep in mind. I f the advert does not specify the property as pet friendly you must ask and get permission from the owner. Where the rental unit is in a sectional title scheme you must ask your agent to confirm the possibility of keeping pets. Most buildings will have a process by which you can apply to keep pets, but they may have certain specifications such as total, type and size of pets allowed.

When you pay the rent you must always keep proof of such payment. If you pay electronically the proof will be available online through your bank. If you pay via cash deposit keep the deposit slip. A further requirement is to always use the correct reference as agreed in advance.

The landlord and/or his representative is entitled to access the property for inspections and/or maintenance. However, he must arrange with you for such access at a time convenient for you.