Tennant has unpaid utilities, has given notice.

[SlinkyMike]

Dude, show any softness and you will be screwed. Demand payment in full immediately or tell the guy you will have his assets attached. Also, you should not have let it get this high. Action should have been taken (cutting the electricity) when it got to half the deposit amount.

Not my style.

I do not wish to live in a world where people treat each other this way, so I don't treat people this way.

 

[Enzo Matrix]

Not my style.

I do not wish to live in a world where people treat each other this way, so I don't treat people this way.

No wonder you are being walked all over, dont complain here then

 

[ProfA]

No wonder you are being walked all over, dont complain here then

+1

 

[ToxicBunny]

Not my style.

I do not wish to live in a world where people treat each other this way, so I don't treat people this way.

Then suck up the R10k debt.. your tenant won't pay it if you won't force him to.

 

[Dolby]

Action should have been taken (cutting the electricity) when it got to half the deposit amount.

He didn't know from what I understand.

 

[SlinkyMike]

No wonder you are being walked all over, dont complain here then

+1

I do not recall having complained. I asked for advice and accounts of personal experience as I'd like to have as much data available to me as possible.

Also, no one is 'walking all over' anyone. It's not a 'see who is more Alpha' competition. It's a business issue that should be resolved to the best possible resolution for all concerned. Sometimes that means giving a little... Sheesh, it's as if the last three posters in this thread are angry with me for approaching things in a level headed, rational fashion.
Wtf?

 

[SlinkyMike]

Then suck up the R10k debt.. your tenant won't pay it if you won't force him to.

You don't know that. You might think that, you might even think that you know it, but then it is clear that you just don't know what knowledge is.

 

[Enzo Matrix]

Hes not paying for whatever reason, your not willing to force him, so gtfo, whats to discuss?

 

[SlinkyMike]

Hes not paying for whatever reason, your not willing to force him, so gtfo, whats to discuss?

First: "gtfo" ...really?

Second: I haven't said that I won't take action, I have said that attaching assets is not a length I would go to and I have insinuated if not stated outright that I will persue a solution between myself and the tenant.

Honestly you guys, it's as if unless I am willing to go to the full extent of the law for the sake of a few grand then I'm an embicile who doesn't deserve advice? W-T-F?

I seem to be dealing with a buch of seriously overcompensating alphas in this thread - tell me honestly: how many of you would actually consider violence in a case like this? I'm getting the impression that quite a few of you would.

Have you considered how being so massively hung up on money and attaching it to your sense of pride reflects on you as an individual? Jissis okes. The tenant has failed to pay all that they are due to pay, it is not a personal insult to me and it makes me no less of a man.

 

[F1 Fan]

Slinky, what the point of asking for advice if you just going to disregard all of it?

Im level headed, and I would like to know, if you were willing to take a knock on the deal so that "all concerned parties" can benefit, why not just go to the tenant and sort it out? Kinda pointless posting a thread asking for advice when you already know what you want to do. No offence.

Edit: I don't think you should resort to violence.

 

[atomcrusher]

All my tenants so far have registered for electricity in their own name all I pay is the rates

I own two rental properties in Jhb (Randburg), and I was told a few years ago by the City of Jhb that they no longer allow a tenant to open a electricity / water account .. i.e. they (C of Jhb) insist the account is in the name of the property owner.

I've been out of Jhb for over 2 years now ... has that position changed now? If so, I'm sure going to get my tenants to open their own elec / water accounts, so that I don't carry the risk.
It would be quite tricky for me to organise this as I live in the WC now

 

[Maverick Jester]

/grabs popcorn

 

[FlatspinZA]

Nope, electricty and water is for the tenant to pay

Not - the onus is on the property owner.

Not my style.

I do not wish to live in a world where people treat each other this way, so I don't treat people this way.

I got shafted by my landlord in 1999. Besides the fact that he gave us permission to remove the rotten carpets that stank to high heaven in any kind of heat, he sued for replacement of the carpets when we moved out. Like a fool, I listened to the Deputy Mayor when the summons arrived, and tossed it, landing myself with a default judgement.

What a mission to get that sorted out.

Business is business, end of story - don't think that because you have good intentions the rest of the world does. Protect yourself first and foremost, then worry about other people!

 

[DiceZA]

Doesnt water fall under rates, which is payable by the owner? Thats what I understood -- Owner pays for my water, I just pay Elec

 

[SlinkyMike]

Slinky, what the point of asking for advice if you just going to disregard all of it?

Im level headed, and I would like to know, if you were willing to take a knock on the deal so that "all concerned parties" can benefit, why not just go to the tenant and sort it out? Kinda pointless posting a thread asking for advice when you already know what you want to do. No offence.

Edit: I don't think you should resort to violence.

I'm not disregarding all advice. I'm disregarding the advice from the landlords posting in this thread who are baying for blood. Think it through: prosecuting will cost as much of not more than what is owed. I wool stress everyone out and make for bitterness resentment, who needs that?

Clearly the best possible outcome for everyone is some kind of amicable agreement.

 

[ToxicBunny]

You don't know that. You might think that, you might even think that you know it, but then it is clear that you just don't know what knowledge is.

You don't want to force him to pay, and he's ended the contract...

Good luck getting any money out of him if you don't force the issue NOW before he leaves.

 

[SlinkyMike]

You don't want to force him to pay, and he's ended the contract...

Good luck getting any money out of him if you don't force the issue NOW before he leaves.

How can I force him to pay, clearly there is an issue with cash flow on his side. For both our sakes, we need to find a solution.

 

[xrapidx]

I do not recall having complained. I asked for advice and accounts of personal experience as I'd like to have as much data available to me as possible.

Also, no one is 'walking all over' anyone. It's not a 'see who is more Alpha' competition. It's a business issue that should be resolved to the best possible resolution for all concerned. Sometimes that means giving a little... Sheesh, it's as if the last three posters in this thread are angry with me for approaching things in a level headed, rational fashion.
Wtf?

A business decision is to get what is owed to you - not to do so is not a busniess decision.

 

[Enzo Matrix]

Who said anything about violence

 

[supersunbird]

Thanks for all the replies.

The deposit will cover the bulk but not all of the arrears. Looks like the remainder will be a write off.

Lesson learned.

I guess it's a little naive of me but I do believe in the basic goodness of people and it's hard to imagine that someone would willfully shaft someone else... I guess they might also not have much of a choice - moving can be expensive, etc.

Remember it is an expense so even the "written off" part can be claimed in next years tax return.