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Know Your Rights as a Lodger/Lessee
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
January 31, 2008

The Association has received several complaints from residents who are lodgers that their rights are not being respected. Some have visited the Associations drop in center to enquire on their rights. CHRA has developed this alert to remind landlords and lodgers on their rights.

Your rights are:

• The right to be given a 3-month notice period before being evicted [sec 30 (2) (c)]
• The right to undisturbed use and enjoyment of the property subject to a lease agreement. This is known at common law as vacant possession e.g. electricity and water should not be disconnected; the lessee’s property should not be removed from the dwellings without a court order. [Sec 33 (1)
• The right to fair rent increases. [Sec 14]
• The right not to pay rent in excess of that granted by the Rent Board. [Sec 26 (1)]
• For statutory tenants, the right to be entitled to the benefit of the original lease agreement [sec 31].
• Right to compensation caused as a result of material defects in property [consequential damages]
• Right to have the property maintained in proper and tenantable condition reasonably fit for the purpose for which it was let.
• The right to be given occupation of the property at the time and date agreed upon in the contract of lease.
• The right not to pay rent in currency other than the Zimbabwean dollar. [Sec 26(2)].
• The right not to have rent increase before the expiry of 6 months from the date of signing the lease agreement without the approval of the Rent Board see sec 39 (4)
• The right to audience before the rent board for purposes of prosecuting an application or appealing.

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