By the end of March, local property owners will be solely responsible for their property accounts, even if these properties have tenants.
This, says City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe, is to ensure accountability.
“Now we only deal with one customer in our books, as opposed to having owner accounts and tenant accounts. Owners of properties are now aware that their properties are at stake if they do not pay for services.”
The municipality made this announcement in May 2017, but said due to the manual nature of the process it is only 90 per cent completed.
Property owners had to, at the time of the announcement, close linked tenant accounts within 18 months, and ensure that all monies owed by tenants in respect of services accounts were paid or transferred to the owner’s account.
Failure to do so would’ve resulted in a disconnection of services to the property.
Now, Gadebe said, tenant account holders who did not voluntarily come forward to close their accounts have been served with notices that their accounts will be terminated.
“Concerned owners have also been informed that accounts for services will be moved to their names.”
The only exceptions to this new municipal policy will be for the administrators of child-headed households and tenants who qualify for indigent support. The same goes for accounts under legal administration, liquidation, sequestration or deceased estates.
Gadebe said the metro did not experience backlash from tenants because of the new process.
“There is more accountability when services and rates are on one account of the owner,” he concluded.
