The National Housing Corporation says most evictions that they carry out are legal and according to process.
The NHC acting managing director made this statement in a recent press briefing with the Housing Minister, Justin Tkatchenko.
Due process is complied with when conducting evictions of defaulting tenants. But before that is done, notices are served on those tenants who do not meet their fortnightly rental payments.
The NHC acting managing director, Elizabeth Bowada, outlined that the NHC provides the lowest rental properties throughout the country but yet, tenants default on payment.
“If you look at it, we have K80 for one of those bedsitters, and for those medium, it’s about K120, and for the properties that are in and around Boroko – three-bedroom house – you’re looking at a maximum of K200 per fortnight. And we have a lot of problems with our tenants because they don’t seem to pay up,” she said.
“A lot of people run to the media and say it’s overnight. No, it’s not overnight. The arrears notices, they start from 30 days and then, after the 30 days is finished, we have 21 days or 14 days. After that, when that lapses, another seven days, and then we have the finality of 48 hours or 24 hours. And then we terminate.
“So if you look at it, it’s concurrently. And if you count the days, it’s more than a month.”
Sharing similar sentiments, the acting CEO of the National Housing Estate Ltd, Madeline Paulisbo, said for their properties, 21-day notices are given, then 14 days, seven days and finally, a 24-hour deadline is given before the termination of tenancy. And just like the NHC, their lawyers file formal court proceedings to obtain a warrant for eviction.
“We have not increased the rent since we started giving out tenancy agreements in 2013. The three-bedroom units are K350 per fortnight, the two-bedroom units are K250 per fortnight and the bedsitters are K150 per fortnight. And the low cost flats at Tokarara are K100 per fortnight,” stated Paulisbo.
“I use this opportunity to appeal to all the tenants to start paying because we don’t want to get to the end result where we create animosity between the tenants and the landlord.
“To also public servants who can go on salary deduction, please make sure you go on your salary deduction. We have a deduction code already – DNHEL – that’s the deduction code. Come and see us, and we will also give you the deduction code.
“I also advised all tenants that the yellow tenancy agreement (form) is now non-existent. You’ll have to come in and sign our new month-to-month tenancy agreement which is white in colour.”
(From left: NHC acting managing director, Elizabeth Bowada and acting CEO of the National Housing Estate Ltd, Madeline Paulisbo)