Question posted in the Landlord Tenant Law category relating to KwaZulu-Natal
Question value: R 0.00
A private person rented a storage unit but did not liase with us in person, he sent someone that is doing work for him to store the goods. They took a copy of the lease to be signed but to date the signed copy has not been received although they do have the copy. In the interim another person doing work for the private person presented himself and requested access to the unit, he had all the information of the private person and knew that goods were stored and stated that the previous person does not do work for the owner of the goods anymore. He then called the "owner" from his phone whilst at the premises. A copy of his id was taken as well. He was given access to the unit and removed the goods to the owners private residence as authorisation was received from the "owner" when he was here via his phonecall. Now a few months down the line the actual owner comes looking for his goods, however the person that removed the goods, stayed in his private residence and was supposed to have done work for him and has now vacated the residence and all the owners goods are gone and according to the owner he paid this person as well for work not done. The question is whethere we are liable for the stolen goods and should we report this matter to the police as fraud commited by this person?