BEREA LIFE - RULES AND CODE OF CONDUCT

FORM RCC-01 (Version 001, Jan 2022)

The latest version of this form, Form RCC-01, is to be read in conjunction with the Lease Agreement for Berea Life. This form forms part of the Lease Agreement. By signing the Lease Agreement, the Tenant agrees to the terms and conditions stated herein.

 

1. Introduction

Part of the vision for BEREA LIFE is to provide a GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE for all Tenants at AFFORDABLE COST. For this reason, we have put in place rules and regulations to ensure that this vision is not compromised, and everyone is COMFORTABLE, FEELS SAFE and RESPECTED at all times. Please read these rules and regulations carefully as some of the requirements may not suit you! BEREA LIFE MAY NOT BE THE PLACE OF CHOICE FOR EVERYONE DUE TO SOME OF THESE RULES. No adjustments will be made to cater for individuals not willing to abide by any of the rules.

 

2. Rooms

1. Tenants to take full responsibility for their rooms and their condition.

2. Sharing of individual rooms is strictly prohibited, except in shared apartment setups where only communal spaces within the apartment are shared, not the individual rooms. Breaking this rule leads to automatic dismissal from the residence.

3. Tenants must clean and tidy their rooms daily (for House overall hygiene, to avoid smells and cockroaches, etc)

4. Refrain from sprinkling traditional medicines or spiritual waters on the walls, as this will result in charges for repainting and repairs.

5. No Nails, wall pictures or sharp objects may be hammered into the walls.

6. Only ONE (1) PERSON per single room will be allowed.

7. All rooms come fitted with a stove, heater, fridge, microwave. No Tenant is allowed to bring any of these appliances into the rooms.

8. Appliances are not to be left on when there is no one in the room. Appliances are to be used with precaution as to avoid risk of fire and electricity consumption.

9. Should a fire/damage ensue due to the Tenant's negligence while using appliances, the Tenant will be responsible to pay for the damages and legal action may be taken.

10. Tenants can bring other appliances such as toasters, kettles but they must be in good working condition, with no lose wires, etc. The Landlord has the discretion to decide which appliances are in good working condition or not, and which should not be allowed in the room.

11. The Landlord will inspect the rooms at least once a month. A schedule of inspections will be made available by the Landlord to Tenants. Tenants who wish to be present during the inspections must take note the schedule. Where Tenants are not present, the Landlord will make use of the master keys to open the rooms for inspection.

12. The Landlord has the right to inspect the rooms at any given time where there's a need.

13. The Landlord reserves the right to do suitable and/or necessary maintenance and repair work by appointment. Where the work to be done is urgent/critical, the Landlord might have to do it without the presence of the Tenant and use the master key to open the rooms (e.g., water leaks and flooding, fire hazard, etc)

14. There are no parties allowed in the residence under any circumstances.

 

3. Occupying and Vacating a Room

1. Every Tenant must ensure that they inspect the room with the Landlord prior to moving in to check all appliances, fittings and the general condition of the room. All defects, damages, etc must be duly noted and signed off by both the Tenant and the Landlord. An Inspection Form will be made available for this purpose.

2. At the end of the Lease Agreement, an outgoing inspection is to be completed when the Tenant vacates the unit to compare with the moving in Inspection Form. The Tenant must give at least one month notice to vacate the unit.

3. All keys needs to be handed in upon departure. Any damages, lost keys will be charged to the Tenant.

 

4. Water, Electricity, and Other Services

1. The services at Berea (e.g., water, electricity, internet, etc) are sufficient to meet the demands of the Tenants ONLY. Sharing the services responsibly is important. Abuse of services by inviting guests and having sleepovers is not allowed as this means you are taking privileges UNFAIRLY from other Tenants who have rights to use the services.

2. The Landlord cannot control power outages and load shedding by Eskom. Tenants are required to observe loadshedding schedule and plan accordingly.

3. ESKOM does not have sufficient capacity for the area. During peak times, the Landlord may impose cooking times, etc. Tenants are required to take note and oblige should this be required.

4. Solar geysers and lights are installed for alternative energy and to manage Eskom use. Please use hot water sparingly considering other Tenants. Showers must not exceed 5 minutes in duration.

5. The Landlord at his discretion will provide power banks, solar panels, etc to make the life of Tenants easy during power outages. Such provision is at the discretion of the Landlord and Tenants cannot make demands on them.

 

5. Internet and Wi-Fi

1. WiFi is affected by electricity outages.

2. WiFi is to be used for studies and not for entertainment purposes, e.g., movies etc. The internet is not for high volume transfers, etc.

3. Tenants are not allowed to issue Wi-Fi passwords to outsiders.

4. The Free Wireless Internet Access is provided with the expectation that the Tenants will utilize this service in a lawful, professional and responsible manner.

5. This Free Internet Access offer can be amended or withdrawn in full or partially at the sole discretion of the Landlord.

6. Berea does not guarantee the availability of the service and shall not be liable in any manner whatsoever in respect of any loss or damages caused by, or arising from, the unavailability of, or any interruption in the service for any reason whatsoever.

 

6. Payment of Rent and Lease Conditions

1. Rent to be paid in advance on or before the LAST DAY of the month, no excuses will be entertained.

2. If you want to vacate Berea give a 30 days' notice, failure which no deposit refund will be paid. You will receive your deposit (or the balance thereof) after the room is inspected and the necessary repairs are made if any.

3. If you slip over the walls, they will be dirty and need painting, your deposit will be used to buy paint and labour.

4. Please provide your bank details on the outgoing Inspection Form for any refunds to be made within SEVEN (7) days of approval.

5. Deposits and any funds shall ONLY be refunded to the party that made payment in the first place, unless there is a written instruction by the original party which made the payment to pay the refund to the Tenant or any other party.

6. The duration of the lease at Berea is a MINIMUM of three(3) months. Should a Tenant decide to vacate before three months they will forfeit their deposit.

7. Services such as WiFi, power banks, laundry machines, and TV room are provided at no charge to the Tenant but at the Landlord's discretion and no Tenant has a claim on these services. These services are meant to make life better for Tenants.

 

7. Maintenance

1. Any maintenance problems in a room or unit must be reported to the office immediately. All maintenance work will be undertaken by the Landlord only.

2. Tenants are not allowed to do maintenance on their own, including calling in maintenance professionals

 

8. Damages

1. Any damage caused by the Tenant due to their negligence shall be repaired by the Landlord at the Tenant's expense. This includes damages caused by a Tenant's visitor in their room.

 

9. Furniture

1. Furniture or any appliances belonging to BEREA LIFE may not be exchanged or moved from one room to another, e.g., chairs may not be taken out of rooms.

2. The units are partly furnished. Tenants are not allowed to replace the furniture that has been provided. Refer to the Inspection Form for the available furniture.

3. Any damages to furniture should be reported to the office immediately.

4. There is furniture in common areas. Tenants must use this furniture with care and consideration for others. Defacing the furniture is prohibited and the Tenant's deposit will be used to fix the damages.

 

10. Visitors

1. No sleepovers are allowed and no excuses will be accepted.

2. Tenants are responsible for the conduct and safety of their visitors at all times.

3. All visitors MUST be reported to the Landlord or to the office at all times..

4. No Tenant may have more than two (2) visitors.

5. No visitors are allowed to remain in the unit or on the premises without the Tenant being present.

6. Tenants will be fully responsible and financially liable for any damages caused by their visitors.

7. Day visitors have access to the building and premises from 08:00 - 20:00 only.

8. Visitors are strictly prohibited after 20:00, except with prior written & signed approval for an extended time.

9. Visitors are not permitted to use the showers. Berea property is strictly reserved for tenants only.

 

10. Smoking is permitted only in designated smoking areas. Alcohol abuse is prohibited, and the use of illegal substances is strictly forbidden.

1. No smoking in rooms, on balconies is allowed.

2. The consumption of alcohol is not permitted in public or common areas of the residence. Drinking is allowed only in residents' rooms. However, intoxication and disruptive behaviour due to alcohol abuse is strictly prohibited and may result in eviction.

3. Possession and consumption of any illegal substances - such as cocaine, marijuana (dagga, weed) etc.- is strictly prohibited on the premises including rooms. Breaking this rule leads to automatic dismissal from the residence and legal action been taken against you where necessary.

4. Burning candles, oil burners, incense burners, bar/oil heaters, and hubbly bubbly is prohibited at all times.

 

13. Weapons or Firearms

1. No weapons or fire arms will be allowed on the property at any time of your stay.

 

14. Noise

1. Tenants and visitors must conduct themselves in a manner that does not cause inconvenience or disturbance to other occupants or neighbours.

2. Tenants are allowed to enjoy music reasonably etc. between 17:00 and 19:00 daily. No noise will be allowed outside of these hours.

3. Radios or any other instruments associated with music, and televisions may not be used in such a manner to annoy or disturb any other occupant or the surrounding neighbourhood.

4. Tenants are responsible for controlling and managing their visitors to ensure they do not cause any nuisance or disturbance to other tenants or the surrounding environment.

 

15. Pets and Animals

1. No pets are allowed on the premises; in bedrooms or units.

2. The stowing and/or slaughtering of animals on the premises is strictly prohibited.

 

16. Units General

1. Do not leave taps open, close after use.

2. Leaking taps, running toilets and any sign of hazardous conditions e.g. mould must be reported immediately.

3. Please remove all plugs from basins after use.

4. No foreign objects may be flushed down the toilet and sinks.

5. Windows should be closed when you leave your unit, except for the bathroom window which must be kept open after showering to allow air in and avoid mould/mildew buildup.

6. No foreign objects, parcels, food, cigarette buds, bottles, cans, stones or similar items to be thrown out the windows or from balconies failure to adhere will result in an R500.00 fine.

7. No dirt or rubbish may be swept out of doors onto the dump rocks, gardens or passages.

8. Use black dustbins provided for rubbish outside.

9. No electrical appliances should be left on. Unnecessary electrical consumption will be collected from the occupant.

10. For your safety and security please keep your doors locked at all times.

11. Please do not distribute your key to other Tenants, visitors, friends, or family.

12. Please report any signs of bedbugs, cockroaches, ants, pests, etc. to the Landlord.

13. The Landlord does not take responsibility for any loss or damage to your property.

14. The Landlord reserves the right to transfer occupants to other rooms when necessary.

15. Common areas are collective responsibility; we rely on the full cooperation of all the Tenants at any given time.

16. Tenants shall not hang or place anything (including but not limited to washing) on the inside or outside of the Room and Balcony or the Building, this is visually unattractive when viewed from the Premises or from the street.

17. Tenants will not be allowed to hang clothes to dry other than on the washing line provided on the premises.

 

17. Laundry

1. No clothes may be washed inside units.

3. No clothes shall be hung to dry in public areas, common areas, balconies.

1. Please use the laundry facilities provided for washing of clothes.

2. No hand-washed laundry should be thrown in tumble dryers at any time.

3. Please remove your washing from lines and dryers as soon as it's done.

4. Please keep the laundry area neat and tidy at all times.

5. No Tenant is allowed to wash visitors' or family member's laundry on site all facilities are strictly for tenants

 

18. Premises General

1. Tenants must not interfere with the reasonable peace, comfort and privacy of other Tenants.

2. No Tenant or visitor are allowed to tamper with electrical boxes, fire extinguishers, windows, taps, fire hydrants, fire hose reels, gate motors, DVR enclosures, turnstiles, biometric units, cameras, etc. in common areas.

4. BEREA LIFE does not have provision for motor vehicles parking. Tenants are not allowed to bring vehicles onto the premises.

1. If the Emergency Equipment (hose reels, etc) is used for any other purpose the Tenant will be liable for the full replacement cost and any call out fees connected thereto.

2. Gardens are there for enjoyment no damaging of plants, trees, lawns,furniture and hedges.

3. No meetings or gatherings of any nature will take place on the premises unless prior written consent has been obtained from the Landlord.

4. Should a Tenant wish to give something to a staff member or security guard a letter should be written and handed in at the office.

5. No political activities and lobbying is allowed. No meetings for tenants are allowed, you are an individual, any dissatisfaction, talk to Landlord.

6. Please make sure that all lights and appliances are switched off except the fridge.

7. When leaving for home, ensure the shower window is left slightly open to prevent stale and mouldy odours in the room

8. Make sure all dishes are clean and put away before leaving for homeroom.

 

19. Behaviour

1. Tenants are expected to always dress appropriately and decently when using common areas.

2. Tenants are never permitted to be abusive, either verbally or physically, towards other tenants or Berea Life staff in order to resolve disputes..

3. No fighting, swearing or disruptive behaviour will be tolerated.

4. Tenants must respect the cultural differences of other Tenants.

 

20. Sexual Harassment

Berea Life Residences maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment in any form. Any resident found guilty of engaging in such behaviour will be in direct violation of the lease agreement. This will result in immediate eviction and may lead to legal action where applicable. All residents are expected to uphold a safe and respectful living environment for all.

 

21. Security

1. Berea has installed tight security for the benefit of Tenants. Tenant's cooperation and good behaviour is however required to ensure that security is intact.

2. Security gates are to be kept closed and locked at all times. Report open gates to the Landlord.

3. Do not open gates for anybody asking to come in, or to get out.

4. Keep your valuables safe, e.g., laptops, cell phones, etc. Berea Life is not responsible for any loss/damage of any property or person.

5. Use the biometric gate carefully, make sure it is closed before you go especially at night. You are each other's keeper.

6. The landlord or security has the right to ask tenants to behave appropriately and reduce the volume of music.

7. Arriving late at night puts your safety at risk.

 

22. Lost Keys

1. Report lost/stolen keys to the Landlord via office administration immediately.

2. A fee of R500.00 will be payable to replace your key.

 

23. Bicycles

1. Bicycles may only be stored in the bicycle storage areas and are not allowed in any communal area of units.

2. Bicycles must be locked and secured at all times.

 

24. Refuse Disposal

1. Refuse must be disposed of in the allocated bins in the dustbin rooms provided.

2. Refuse includes waste, cigarette buds, leftovers, and bottles.

3. No refuse may be thrown out of the room or building windows.

4. The cleaning team will remove refuse from the communal dustbins regularly (excluding Sundays and Public Holidays).

 

25. Reporting of Any Fault and/or Transgressions of these Rules.

1. Tenants can anonymously report any fault and/or a transgression of these rules, in writing to the office or in case of an emergency telephonically.

3. Penalties for the transgression of these rules on receipt of any complaints from other Tenants against the Tenant, BEREA LIFE will investigate such complaints, and should it be valid Berea will in its sole discretion in respect of:

- A first Complaint be entitled but not obliged to impose a fine of at least R500.00 against the Tenant and charge such a fine to the Tenant's monthly account.
- A Second Complaint be entitled but not obliged to impose a fine of at least R500.00 against the Tenant and charge such a fine to the Tenant's monthly account as well as a final written warning.
- A Third complaint be entitled but not obliged to terminate the service and residence agreement of the Tenant and/or to take such legal steps as he deems fit. If BEREA LIFE in its sole discretion is of the opinion that any transgression of the House Rules is of such a serious nature that it constitutes a breach of the Agreement, BEREA LIFE is entitled to take such steps required in order to cancel the Agreement without any previous complaints having been lodged and or fines having been levied against the Tenant. If at the termination date of the Agreement any amounts/fines/additional fees are still due and unpaid by the Tenant, BEREA LIFE will be entitled to charge such amounts due to the Tenant, prior to refunding any balance thereof to the Tenant.

 

26. The Following are Examples of Eviction Reasons:

1. Drug Use and abuse. Drug dealing and misuse of substances (drugs, marijuana, etc)

2. Subletting a room for an additional Tenant

3. Breaking access control rules

4. Damage to property

5. Alcohol abuse turning BEREA LIFE into a shebeen/brothel

6. Failure to pay within 7 days after month end, results in immediate eviction.

7. Any fraudulent activity, such as submission of fabricated proof of payment, committing fraud, etc

8. Crime or conviction of a crime, etc.

9. Sexual harassment offenses.