Municipalities to receive free Rental Housing Tribunal service

Rental Housing Tribunal’s free service to the public will soon be made available to municipalities across the Western Cape

Are you experiencing tenant and landlord conflict issues?

The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure’s Rental Housing Tribunal unit (RHT) provides a free service to the public. The service is aimed at resolving disputes between landlords and tenants. In addition, it seeks to educate the parties about their rights and obligations should an unfair and unlawful act occur that contravenes any legislation.

The RHT was established 23 years ago, in 2001, in terms of the Rental Housing Act, 50 of 1999 (RHA), and has since played an important role in the rental housing sector in the Western Cape. Over the years it has assisted citizens by resolving disputes such as but not limited to the following:

• Unlawful notice to vacate.
• Unlawful evictions.
• Claim for damages.
• Failure to refund deposit.
• Failure to accept notice.
• Failure to do maintenance.
• Failure to furnish receipts.
• Exorbitant increase in rental.
• Unilateral change in the agreement.
• Claim in remission in rental.
• Failure to provide municipal services (cutting off water and electricity).
• Unlawful seizure of possessions.

The latest 3rd quarter (October 2023 – December 2023) statistical performance report indicated that there were 777 cases captured and 715 cases closed off. The RHT is legislated to finalise matters within 90 days, with a backlog of 261 cases.

Due to an increased demand for the services to be accessed in other areas in the province, Minister Tertuis Simmers said that residents can soon expect to access this critical service in their various local municipalities. “We are currently in discussions with various municipalities and an announcement will be made on the expansion of the services beyond Cape Town. This is to ensure that citizens across the province have access to our services,” said the Minister.

Citizens wishing to contact the Rental Housing Tribunal may do so through the following avenues:

Contact details for enquiries

Contact Centre: 0860 106 166

Please Call Me: 079 769 1207

SMS: Help to 31022

For general and dispute related enquiries

Submit all complaint forms, annexures and a copy of your lease agreement to: e-mail: rht.disputes@westerncape.gov.za

Telephone: 021 483 5020 / 6495 / 3283

Fax: 021 483 3313

Click here to access the webpage.