Metering of electricity with secondary prepaid electricity meters is an excellent way for property investors, landlords and letting agents to avoid the risk of having to pay electricity utility bills, when tenants don't pay.

However, feedback from the field shows that prepaid electricity meters also have other benefits. Customers who have installed prepaid electricity meters, in their rental units, are telling PrepaidMeters.co.za that one of the interesting benefits of using prepaid meters is that they are directly reducing their tenant turnover.

In today’s information age anyone can find anything they ever want on the Internet. There is no lack of information, by far, there is excess more often than not. In today’s world mothers arrive at the doctors rooms with 50 pages of data, printed from the internet, of what can be wrong with their child. There only reason for a visit to the doctor is to confirmation what they think they already know is wrong. This may not be such a good practice, but it is no joke. From doctors to property investors and tenants, anyone can find out anything about everything. For property investors this means that tenants today also have information at their fingertips and property investors must take heed to that, or else!

By the day tenants are gaining unfair advantage!

"How long did you think you would get away with it?"

"I don’t know what you are talking about….”

This is a quote from a conversation that was relaid to me. It took place between a property investor and his tenant.

I won’t bore you with the whole story, but I will tell you what happened in short, and it is suggested to read carefully as it may happen to you.
A new property investor bought a house with cottage as an investment. Shortly after talking transfer he placed a tenant. For a few months everything was fine, then he got a frantic call from his tenant.

As a result of increases in interest rates and changes enforced by the New National Credit Act, many are predicting that the rental market is about to blossom for buy-to-let investors. The reasonsing for these predictions is logical, increased interest rates combined with lower bond qualifying amounts for property buyers will temporarily forced many people to rent. How true is this prediction?

As with everything in life, one can’t simply take a prediction at face value. There are many factors to consider before one can state, in this case, that increased interest rates and the NCA will usher in "glory days" for buy-to-let investors. This article looks at some of the consideration investors need to factor.

According to the Rental Housing Act, both landlords and tenants have obligations and rights. The Rental Housing Tribunal was established to provide a free dispute settlement service between tenants and landlords.

This is part two of a two part article series. Part one is: Rental Housing Tribunal is Here to Solve Disputes between Tenants and Landlords.

So what are your rights as a tenant or a landlord? Here is a place to start.

The Rental Housing Tribunal has been formed in 2001 to help solve disputes between tenants and landlords.

There is a misconception that the Tribunal is there only to help tenants. However, that is not the case. The Rental Housing Tribunal is helping both landlords and tenants alike to solve their disputes in any unfair practices on both sides.

This is part one of a two part article series. Part two is:  Rental Housing Tribunal: Let Us Read Your Rights!