Over 20 families sublet on Glen Austin plot
GLEN AUSTIN - Tenants at a property in Glen Austin complained to Midrand Reporter of the squalid conditions they live in, yet they pay R1 600 per room per family. They said they have asked the owner to build more toilets but he has ignored their requests.
Families from 20 rooms have to share one toilet and bathroom, and tenants also allege that the property owner doesn’t respond to meeting requests, but sends his agent to collect rent every month.
One of the tenants, Jimmy Maloantoa said, “We live with a stream of raw sewage, the property owner has never bothered to fix the problem.”
Tenants said the ward councillor came two months ago to take a look around the property, but has yet to come back to them.
When the agent, who does not want to be named, was contacted, he said he was managing the property on behalf of his boss who relocated overseas. “Those tenants are complaining to Midrand Reporter but they have not paid rent for the past three months. We want to evict them,” he countered.
When asked to provide contact details for the owner, the agent refused but offered to facilitate email communication. However, after two weeks, he had still not responded. After Midrand Reporter called him, he claimed to have not received the emails.
Ward 92 councillor, Leepile Motsumi revealed that the property was under investigation.
“I went to the property after I heard that the owner was subletting, we are investigating who the real owner is and if they have permission to have so many people renting that one property.”
He said he was making plans with an inspector to assess the property and the living conditions.
“Of major concern is the electricity box which is bare, this is very dangerous as there are children on the property, I will also engage the areas’ service provider to investigate electricity connections at that place.”
