Kuitira Vasikana Trading - Pty Ltd

Kuitira Vasikana Trading - Pty Ltd Bringing Quality and affordability in a sentence and in action.

Kuitira Vasikana Trading (PTY) Ltd, located in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, will be specialising in leasing of rental homes to low and middle income earners or families. The primary concept of the company is to provide the best kept and cleanest rental homes to its tenants. The company is aiming at creating an outstanding reputation, be well known and recognized as having the best and affordable rental homes in the area or community.

13/08/2015

Joburg to reduce rental for elderly

It's good news for thousands of elderly people living in Joburg council old age homes. The Gauteng Rental Housing Tribunal has ordered the City of Joburg to decrease rentals from September 1.

Elderly residents sit down to lunch in the dining room at a Joburg city council-owned home for the aged in Soweto.

The elderly, most of whom are on a state pension, have been complaining for years that they can't afford the rental.

They have also complained that the city doesn't undertake maintenance work and that they live in poor conditions.

The Old Age Villages Association, comprising 26 villages, took their grievances to the tribunal which ruled in their favour in June.

The Star visited Riverlea Extension 2 Senior Citizens Village and heard the complaints.

Marlene Humphries said there was no maintenance in the village despite the fact that they were charged exorbitant fees.

"We have a collapsing fence which we have reported many times. We are vulnerable as there is drug dealing in the area. We have leaking taps which we repair at our own cost which we cannot afford," she pointed out.

Another resident, Maud Morris, said the fire extinguishers had not been serviced for years, which endangered their lives.

"In summer the grass is long. We have also unblocked our own drains many times," she said.

The rent, Morris said, was far too high for people living on a state pension.

Residents pay between R230 and R480 a month, depending on the size of the flat.

This includes water, but excludes electricity.

Pensions vary between R1 350 and R1 410 and expenses for electricity, transport, food, and medicine range between R2 022 and R3 850, leaving residents with a shortfall of about R770 a month.

In the tribunal papers, the city said the rent was already subsidised and should be closer to R500 a month. The city decreased rent for the 2013-14 financial year and was prepared to freeze the current rents for the next two years.

In the papers, the city said it was "very sensitive to the plight of the elderly, but harsh economic realities dictate that it would simply not be able to maintain the facilities if the rent was reduced".

It also said many tenants refused to pay rent.

In its final findings, the tribunal said it acknowledged that there was huge pressure for housing in the city, especially for the elderly, and that the government was unable to cater for all these needs to the full extent required.

"We also take into account that unrealistically low rentals may result in ratepayers being compelled to bear the additional burden of further subsidising these units," the tribunal ruled, adding that legislation must be interpreted, where possible, to favour the more vulnerable sectors of society.

It reduced the rental to R180 a month for a bachelor unit to R360 for a one-bedroom unit.

It also said outstanding maintenance work should be completed by June 30, which had not happened. If the city does not comply, it can be found guilty of an offence and be liable to a fine, or imprisonment not exceeding two years.

Councillor Basil Douglas, who receives daily complaints from homes in Riverlea/Eldorado Park in his ward, said he was pleased with the ruling.

"I congratulate all the leaders of senior citizens villages on their victory, and will hold the city accountable for its service delivery towards the senior citizens.

"The aged have had to deal with bad living conditions for years.

"In four villages in my ward, the units were not regularly serviced. Some had sewage mains blocked, fire hydrants that don't work and toilets that are not in working condition," Douglas said.

The city said it had noted the ruling.

Spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said: "The current applicable tariffs were approved by a full sitting of the council.

"The Housing Department is currently engaging with the Legal Department on how best to take the process forward.

"The process will obviously involve putting together a report and taking it back to the council for consideration and approval."

The Star

Posted at 09:32AM Aug 13, 2015 by Editor in Market |

11/08/2015

If one prevents a man from working for the good of society while at the same time providing for the satisfaction of his own needs, then only one way remains open to him: to make himself richer and others poorer by the violent oppression and spoliation of his fellow men.
Ludwig von Mises, Liberalism

03/08/2015

The appearance of a home that a buyer often fall in love with, there is sometimes more to a home than meets the eye. “Do your homework”
It is easy to fall in love with a beautiful home, but remember to look at all the details. Issues that seem small could end up costing you a lot of money to fix.
“Purchasing a property is a large investment. In fact, for many it is the largest financial investment they will ever make.” For this reason it is important that buyers take their time and give their decision the necessary consideration that it requires.
Top 5 potential defects to look out for:
1. Cracks in the Foundation Walls
2. Roof Damage
3. Foundation Drainage
4. Faulty Electrical System
5. Plumbing Problems

Plumbing issues are often difficult to detect or check, as the problem may be underground. The more common defects include outdated piping materials and faulty fixtures. While replacing a fixture is a simple repair, replacing an entire plumbing system will require far more extensive measures. When viewing a home, buyers should look under the sinks for pipes that are leaking or in need of repairs, although it is best to have the plumbing system inspected by a professional plumber.
Taking the time to ensure that the property is in good repair may require some initial work on the buyer’s part, however, the time and effort will pay off in the long run by providing the buyer with an appreciating asset that grows in value.

What are Advantages and Disadvantages when buying a house in an Auction?
31/07/2015

What are Advantages and Disadvantages when buying a house in an Auction?

Morning everybody. .
22/01/2015

Morning everybody. .

12/01/2015

Morning beautiful people, lets learn!
Happy Monday

There are five key things to consider when developing and maintaining good relationships between landlords and tenants.

Blogger: Carolyn Parrella, executive manager, Terri Scheer Insurance

A happy tenant often means a happy landlord.

When a landlord has a good relationship with their tenant, issues such as late or no payment of rent and damage to property may be minimal.

While this is obviously beneficial to the landlord, developing and maintaining a good relationship requires some work. It won’t be achieved by putting tenants into a property and then forgetting about them. Nor will it be developed by micro-managing and constantly checking on the tenants while they are trying to get on with their lives.

There are five key things to consider when developing and maintaining good relationships between landlords and tenants.

Attend to maintenance issues promptly

For tenants, how quickly a landlord attends to maintenance issues can be an indication of how the landlord views the relationship and values the tenant. Landlords who act promptly and keep their tenants informed of progress show that they care.
Responding quickly to issues that affect a tenant’s enjoyment of the property, such as broken water heaters, stoves or air conditioners, blocked drains or rainwater damage, is vital. It may take a few days for a tradesperson to undertake the repairs or replace a broken unit, but if the tenant knows that action was taken as soon as the issue was reported, it may help to ease stress levels. A follow-up call a few days after the repairs are made also helps develop trust.

Delaying repairs or maintenance can open a landlord up to a legal liability claim if a tenant or their guest is injured as a result. It may also send the wrong message to tenants.

Undertake regular inspections
Regular inspections are essential to ensure the tenant is looking after the property, and there may be requirements for inspections in your rental agreement or by law. It’s also an opportunity for a tenant to point out any maintenance issues the landlord needs to address. Regular inspections show the tenant that the landlord takes an active interest in the condition of their property and helps reinforce the conditions under which the tenant has leased their property.

Maintain positive relationships with tenants
Maintaining a positive relationship with your tenant can help to ensure that they remain cooperative throughout their lease agreement. Listening and carefully considering requests for changes to lease conditions and responding quickly to queries or concerns helps build rapport.

Requests to change lease conditions should be carefully considered and, if rejected, sound reasons should be provided in writing. There may be specific requirements about dealing with requests in your rental agreement or at law. Where routine maintenance needs to be undertaken, working with the tenant to determine the best time for the work to be undertaken is also good practice.

Consider the tenant's needs
If you’re looking to sell your rental property, your tenant’s lease should be a priority. Changes to the ownership of a rental house or unit can be a time of stress for a tenant, as it may destabilise their life and make their future less certain.

Give the tenant as much notice as possible that a property is going onto the market and work with them to determine the best way to go forward. If open-for-inspections are required, give tenants as much notice as possible.

Landlords may be entitled to raise the rent of their properties periodically, and you should check your rental agreement. No tenant wants to pay more rent, however, it is sometimes necessary to implement rental increases to cover the rising costs of maintaining a property.

Letting tenants know about a rental increase should take place in a timely fashion and in accordance with your rental agreement and other laws, not left until just before the lease expires. If a tenant knows in advance that a rate rise is coming and the reasons behind it are justified, they may be more inclined to stay.

Be realistic
Even the most careful of tenants can damage a property. Accidents happen and if a tenant has a good track record, there is nothing to be gained by adopting an unreasonable approach.

Landlords should consider having tailored landlord insurance in place in the event of the unforeseen. This may cover them for both malicious and accidental damage, although, if the landlord has a good relationship with the tenant, the chance of malicious damage may be significantly lessened.

09/01/2015

Sharing of information: things to know about...

Build, Buy or Renovate?

Have you outgrown your house? Or perhaps you just feel like a change in your home environment. If you need to change your living space, save yourself many sleepless nights by finding out exactly what you’re letting yourself in for, from a construction and financial perspective. Here are three options you can consider:

• Build a new house

• Buy a new house

• Renovate your current home

Building Pros: Building Cons:

Building your own house can be a challenge, but if you choose your builder wisely, you’ll learn a great deal about your house and about house construction

You’ll have much more freedom on the overall design of your house so it can be tailored exactly to your requirements.

A professional builder will take care of all the paperwork and negotiations with local authorities, suppliers and sub-contractors on your behalf. Building a house can be very expensive – around 20% more than the average existing house price.

Be prepared to wait. Building takes time and ultimately you are responsible for the final outcome. You will also have to budget for the extra costs of temporary accommodation until the building is complete.

You need to be ready and available to make decisions quickly should a problem arise. Delays in making even minor decisions can ripple through the whole process. Expect the unexpected. Problems are bound to occur and you must be ready to face unforeseen costs.

Buying Pros: Buying Cons:

You can take your time to look at several homes and compare what’s on offer, until you find something that suits you.

You may be able to move in straight away if the seller agrees. You would just need to pay occupational rent until the deal is settled.

As the economy begins to recover times are still tough for sellers, so you may be able to negotiate over the price.

Unless you are very lucky, you will probably have to compromise over the design and layout of the house.

Be prepared to spend extra money to make modifications or repairs. Most houses will need some additional work.

Watch out for so-called “bidding wars”, where you may find yourself in fierce competition over your dream home. It’s easy to get carried away and pay more than your budget.

You may have to wait for your ideal home to come on the market, especially if you have very specific requirements.

Renovating Pros: Renovating Cons:

If you are happy with the area in which you live, renovating your home will allow you stay there, without the need to move schools, etc.

Contrary to popular belief, it is often more expensive to renovate your home than it is to sell and either build or buy a new home with the features you require.

08/01/2015

Good morning world! Quote of the day:

The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.
Confucius

07/01/2015

Daily lesson: Know your Rights as a tenant.

A Tenant’s Rights in South Africa – Why Should the Landlord Care?

It is imperative for a Landlord to know the Tenant’s rights in the South African context and not just the Landlord’s rights and obligations because:

The Landlord will know when a Tenant is overstepping his/her rights. This may help speed up the eviction process.Such knowledge may stop a Landlord from abusing a Tenant’s rights unknowingly – a fact that may negatively effect any successful eviction.The Landlord can hold the Tenant to his/her obligations with conviction

Hire Eviction Lawyers South Africa for in depth knowledge and advice about obligations and rights of Tenants in South Africa.

Some important questions about a Tenant’s rights in South Africa answered:What are a Tenant’s rights and obligations when a lease expires and the Landlord allows the Tenant to carry on staying on the South African property?In general, a Landlord, as well as a Tenant, both have the right to give notice to each other, to cancel any lease agreement between them (see Rental Housing Act 1999Both the Landlord and Tenant must give at least one month notice to the other party when wanting to cancel the lease. (Rental Housing Act 1999)The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) gives additional rights to the Tenant by allowing them to cancel the lease provided 20 business days notice is given. (Note: this does not apply to some juristic persons)HOWEVER should the above additional rights of the Tenant be exercised, the Tenant may be obligated to pay a “reasonable” cancellation fee – Up to 3 months rental.When can a Tenant’s right to occupy a home be affected?

A Tenant continues to have the right to occupy his/her home, as long as he/she complies with the obligations stated in the lease agreement.

Can the Landlord do anything to the property without the knowledge of the Tenant?

No, it is the Tenant’s right to be consulted on issues affecting the Tenant. For example: Repairs, renovations, lock changes etc.

Can the Tenant’s right to remain in a property be cancelled if the Landlord is selling that property?

No, the Tenant has the right to stay in the property until the lease expires whether there is a change in ownership or not (provided the Tenant’s obligations as per the lease are met).

Is a Tenant obligated to use the rental property in a certain way?

Yes, the Tenant can only use the leased premises for the purposes as stated in the lease agreement.

Is it a Tenant’s right to sublet the leased premises?

No, the Tenant must have the permission from the Landlord.

Can a Tenant make alterations to the property without consent from the Landlord?

No.

07/01/2015

Happy new year beautiful people of South Africa.. as the year begins it is important we all learn from each other, embrace change and engage discipline in our lives!

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Soweto
1864

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(011) 027-3386

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