Rental Housing Tribunal demystified
29 January 2009

The Rental Housing Tribunal (RHT) is an independent body appointed by the Provincial Minister of Housing to promote stability in the rental housing sector and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants of residential dwellings with the least amount of inconvenience and cost to the disputants. It aims to offer a speedy process of justice to resolving disputes that would otherwise remain clogged in the legal system for months, if not years.

Each tribunal office consists of 3 - 5 members that are appointed to serve a term of three years, and if appropriate, can be extended for a further three years. The members include attorneys, advocates, property professionals, and experts in consumer matters related to rental housing elected by the Minister of Housing. The tribunal also has a staff component that includes inspectors, technical advisors and administrative support staff.

The RHT has the authority to arrange mediations or sub-poena parties to a hearing. The ruling of the Tribunal is deemed to be a judgment of a Magistrates Court. The RHT can, in addition, impose a fine and/or imprisonment, and has the authority to deal with disputes, complaints or problems that include: non-payment of rentals, refund of security deposit, invasion of tenants' privacy, overcrowding, determination of whether rental are exploitative , unlawful seizure of tenants goods, discrimination by landlord against a prospective tenant, receipts not issued, tenant conducting a nuisance, maintenance and repairs, illegal lockout and disconnection of services.  Read more...

 Salim Patel, www.ghostdigest.co.za