Bill favours banks, landlords, say critics

The Bill is open to public comment until February 2. It amends what is known as the Pie Act (the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act). The proposed amendments, says the Cape Argus, mean landlords will no longer need a court order to get an eviction. Instead, any one of several provincial rental housing tribunals, set up in terms of the Rental Housing Act of 2002, can grant eviction orders after a hearing, says André Rossouw, manager of the Western Cape Rental Housing Tribunal. Attorney Malcolm Roup said the amendments left tenants in a weaker position. ‘If a tenant complains about something he could just get kicked out,’ he said. Full Cape Argus report More on the Bill

Still on property issues: The City of Johannesburg has warned against ‘premature’ assumptions that the pending rates review process will increase rates even before research is finalised and the draft rates scale is drawn up, says Business Day. It adds this statement comes at a time of growing concern about the Property Rates Act, which introduces a rating system based not only on the value of land but also on improvements. The Act will make all 284 municipalities operate under the same rules and they will have the same opportunities to increase their revenue. Johannesburg City Manager Mavela Dlamini said residents should engage their local authorities on the process and ‘their objections will be taken into consideration when the rates are drawn up’. He said the city expected rates to remain largely the same. Full Business Day report