LANDLORDS & TENANTS BEWARE
Category Rentals
With Mauritius currently being an unregulated real estate environment, there are things that you need to be aware of and take note of when dealing with agents, and before entering into a lease agreement.
Ensure that the lease is comprehensive, fair and balanced. As a minimum it needs to cover:
- The names, contact details and banking details of the landlord and tenant
- The address of the premises
- How much the rent and deposit is and who will hold the deposit
- The duration of the lease
- Costs that are included, and costs payable separately by the tenant
- Agency contact details and fees payable by each party
- A breach and remedy clause
Basic obligations of each party
Landlord's Obligations
- Premises to be handed over to the tenant in a habitable state. Any appliances mentioned in the lease agreement must be in good working order
- Guarantee the tenant against any natural fault or defects
- Ensure the property is always properly maintained and complete necessary repairs as mentioned in the lease agreement other than what is the tenant's responsibility.
Tenant's obligations
- Pay the rent and any additional charges on the agreed date as per the lease agreement
- Use the property only for its intended purpose as per the lease agreement (residential / commercial / industrial)
- Ensure the property is well maintained and kept in the state it was received. Complete any repairs that are the tenant's responsibility and report these to the landlord.
- Not make any adjustments to the property without written consent from the landlord. If changes are made without consent, the landlord can insist that you restore the property to its original state
- Not sub-let a part or the whole of the premises or transfer the lease without the approval of the landlord.
Agent Commission
In Mauritius, both the Landlord and Tenant are responsible for payment of commission for bringing the parties together and administrating the lease agreement.
The commission is usually equivalent to 1 (one) months rent PLUS VAT from each party.
It is to be noted that certain agencies do discount commissions, or only take commission from one party. If the agency being used to manage the rental of one of your biggest assets / find a home for you and your family is not a professional real estate company, charging their worth, you need to consider whether they are in a position to offer a professional service, or are just making sideline money. Is this their core business, and will the protect you the landlord if your tenant is delinquent, or you, the tenant, if the landlord doesn't meet their obligations? Do they even have permission from the landlord to rent the property out?
RE/MAX 24 is there every step of the way to manage and negotiate to keep both parties satisfied for the duration of the lease. We also offer a manged lease service and can ensure that any required repairs and maintenance matters are attended to promptly.
Though there is no formal credit checking process available in Mauritius, RE/MAX 24 does a check with the tenant's previous landlord, gets proof of their right to stay in Mauritius, and their capacity to pay the rent. As an extra service to the landlord, we are also equipped to do credit checks on clients from South Africa based on their credit record there.
RE/MAX 24 is committed to ensuring that your needs as a tenant or landlord are catered to. Contact us for professional service - partner with a global, trusted real estate brand.
Author: RE/MAX 24 Mauritius