Polokwane Muni: Landlords remain liable
Landlords remain liable for the debt of their rental properties even if the account is sent to their tenants, and it remains the responsibility of the landlord to inspect whether services as stipulated are actually paid for.
POLOKWANE – The Polokwane Municipality issued this statement after an estate agent, who opted to remain anonymous, complained that while the tenants receive a monthly bill, any service debt remains the landlord’s responsibility. Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala says a lease agreement is a supporting document for a tenant’s account to be opened and to prove that the landlord authorised the occupancy.
“The tenant account will only levy water and electricity if these are not prepaid. The account will be levied in the name of the tenant and sent to the address provided.
If the account, however, is in arrears, credit control measures will be implemented.”
Selala maintains that it is not the responsibility of the municipality but rather of the landlord to check their tenant’s account and that this is legislated.
He says the landlord will account for other services and on request they can be shown the tenant’s balance as the tenant account is available to the landlord at anytime.
“Municipal debt, although levied to the tenant, is a debt against the property and if not paid by the tenant, the owner becomes responsible and credit control will be applied in line with this policy to recover the arrears. This is why the owner will always remain partly and jointly liable for the debt.”
Selala however mentions that the owners are not responsible for the debt of the previous owners or any previous tenant before they acquired the property but emphasises that they are responsible for the debt of their tenants.
