Asked by the Customer on 08-09-2014 14:29:10
Question posted in the Landlord Tenant Law category relating to Western Cape

Gd Day

My name is Chantel, I'm renting a small flatlet part of the main house in which my landlord stays. Ive been living there for roughly 10 months. The rental started at 250.00 p.day and since has been increased to 350 p.day. I needed to find a place urgently so at the time had no choice than to except the high rental amount. ive since kept up to date with my payments and only recently started falling behind with my rent, still I made a payment atleast every week just to try to get the outstanding amount back to zero.

My landlord has only but harrassed me almost everyday, he has a drinking problem that ive witnessed. Last nite with him expecting a payment towards my outstanding amount of 14800.00, he was drunk and was in no state to reason with. i never had any payment for him and told him that I would be making another payment today. with all this going on he threatened to lock me inside the property. he set a time of 19h00 then he would lock me in, which he did. Apart from that I have my 10 yr old son who comes to me every weekend, i needed to get him home as he had school in the morning. After calling the police to demand that my landlord open for us, we were finally let out at 22h45. we locked up and rushed off to take my son home late, when we came back the big gate which is our entrance gate was unlocked but he had locked me out of my flat. with it been late by that time i had to phone family and friends awake to get a couch atleast just to go sleep.......

all my furniture and belonglings are inside and he wont allow me to take them, what are my options-rights here even though i o him rent still

Please let me know if you are able to advise me on this situation.

Kind Regards
Chantel