Hi there. My name is Aadil Khan from Ben...

Asked by the Customer on 10-03-2015 15:13:49
Question posted in the Landlord Tenant Law category relating to Gauteng

Hi there. My name is Aadil Khan from Benoni.
I require sound legal advice on my matter.
I have signed a leas agreement in my own capacity for a business premises.
2 months into the lease, the landlord requested me to move out and reinstate the property to the condition in which it was recieved. ( I replaced the shop front with a garage door to allow vehicles to enter).
I aquired his permission verbally and he has been at the premises a few times and had no problem with it. After requesting me to move out, his lawyer requested me to replace the shop front as I did not get wriiten permission.
I had the front changed to how it was originally. I entered into the lease agreement in september 2014. I replaced the shop front in January 2015 to normal and cancelled the lease agreement in writing as I had already moved out as per instruction of Landlord. His lawyer requested payment for rent for January and Feb which I had paid. He is now asking for rent for March. I have done some research and found out that the landlord had the responsibility to find a replacement tenant in the shortest time as to keep my cancellation penalties to the lowest.

This matter is now taken to court. I wish to know what defense do I have? The lease agreement was also not in simple english which goes against the cpa, will that stand any ground?

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