Renting property question.

**Tigerbarb** · 23-03-2015, 17:45

Just a question for people that are informed about renting property .
I rent / lease a piece of land next to the Vaal river and put up a lets call it a vacation cottage on the land .
The owner now wants to enforce a time that he will give the people renting access to the property .
No access after 21 h 00 and no exit before 06 h 00 in the morning .
Is this legal to lock the gate and only open it certain times ?
There is no mention of any access times in the contract .
What do you suggest fight him on it or does he have the right to do this ?

**Springer** · 23-03-2015, 18:26

Originally Posted by Tigerbarb

Just a question for people that are informed about renting property .I rent / lease a piece of land next to the Vaal river and put up a lets call it a vacation cottage on the land .The owner now wants to enforce a time that he will give the people renting access to the property .No access after 21 h 00 and no exit before 06 h 00 in the morning .Is this legal to lock the gate and only open it certain times ?There is no mention of any access times in the contract .What do you suggest fight him on it or does he have the right to do this ?

What is driving the reason to make these changes? Maybe chat to him?

**griffin** · 23-03-2015, 18:30

He must have a good reason, Springer is right chat to him. Let him know your reasons for not liking his idea.

**Slingshot** · 23-03-2015, 18:54

There's been quite a few robberies on the Vaal this past while. Family friend's neighbor got killed last year. Security maybe?

**Tigerbarb** · 23-03-2015, 18:59

Dont like to be locked in there is only one entrance .
About 2 years ago my neighbour had a accident with petrol while filling his genie and i rushed him to the hospital at about 21h30 if the gate was locked he would not have made it in time to the ER .
It just doesnt make sense to lock the gate if your cell number is not on the system you cant get in anyway .
Anyway whats the use if i work late on a Friday i can only get in at 06 h 00 Saturday morning .

**Tigerbarb** · 23-03-2015, 19:02

Originally Posted by Slingshot

There's been quite a few robberies on the Vaal this past while. Family friend's neighbor got killed last year. Security maybe?

Thats what the cell phone system at the gate is for to keep people from just driving in .
Its right next to the N1 so baddies will just stop on the highway for a quick get away .

**Tigerbarb** · 24-03-2015, 12:53

Can some one with a legal background clarify if the owner can lock you out ?

**Proudprado** · 24-03-2015, 13:00

I'm sure they can. Don't you think they should be paid for that, however?

**Tigerbarb** · 24-03-2015, 13:49

Originally Posted by Proudprado

I'm sure they can. Don't you think they should be paid for that, however?

Sorry i dont understand what you are trying to say .

**Proudprado** · 24-03-2015, 13:55

I'm saying you get what you pay for. You might get my opinion here, which is that a landowner can only do what is in the contract, within reason. However, if you go to someone who did not study law 20 years ago, you might pay a bit of money for the opinion, but it would be worth something ... as opposed to what you get for free on the internet.

You might also get an opinion that erecting structures on agricultural land with the aim to rent it out on a long-term lease is illegal. Therefore the contract is illegal and the landowner can do as he pleases.