Liquidator explains BCL housing rentals
Onalenna Kelebeile | Friday August 4, 2017 15:12
Speaking with regard to the rental arrangement for BCL houses, the liquidator said yesterday morning that he fully understands that the arrangement would attract negative feedback even from ex-employees because some of them have got no income.
He said his responsibility is not necessarily towards ex-employees, but to creditors owed by the mine.
“Otherwise, I would have to be answerable as to why I did not deliver on my expectations. My duty is to preserve the mine assets until they can be disposed of,” he said.
He added that technically he could have asked ex-employees to vacate the houses when the company went into liquidation last October but, “we agreed with government, under the laws that I have to operate under, that I let them stay for 12 months”.
He said they believed that the 12-month period stay was sufficient for them to know exactly what would happen regarding the sale of or even closure of the BCL Mine.
He added that he was compelled to come up with the housing strategy because of a lot of interest from paratatals, government departments and private companies to BCL houses.
He said upon liquidation last year all ex-employees were given proper 12 months lease agreements to sign including a three-month’s notice clause, as they are now tenants in BCL houses.
“Now, we have reached three months’ limit so with the correspondence I needed to inform the BCL house occupants about what we have considered. Since last year there had been a lot interest and enquiries from parastatals, private companies and government departments wanting to rent out our houses because there is shortage of accommodation in Selebi-Phikwe so I have to do whatever is possible where there is an opportunity to do cost recovery,” he said.
Dixon-Warren said they are aware that many houses are empty, but have not been returned to be placed in stock so that they can be made available for rental.
He explained that he fully recognised that October is a bad month for relocations, especially for parents whose children are still schooling hence the interim arrangement that if at the end of October one still wants to occupy the house then s/he should sign a lease and pay minimal rent.
“This would also encourage those who have not handed their houses to do so and would ensure that those who remain in the houses are not disadvantaged,” he said.
He noted that after January the houses will be charged market related rentals because they are in demand. He said they are yet to make assessments to come up with a reasonable rental value.
He said there have already been concerns from neighbours over security issues as a result of unoccupied houses.
Dixon-Warren said that those who fail to sign the leases would be treated as illegal occupants and actions necessary to recover the houses will be taken.
According to the correspondence, the arrangement will commence at the beginning of November. Those who will remain in the house after the end of October will pay rent that will be determined by the type of the houses they occupy.
“Should you wish to leave earlier than January 2018 you can do so by giving the necessary notice. Those wishing to continue to rent BCL owned houses after February 2018 will have to pay a commercial rental. Rentals will be payable in advance and on a monthly basis,” he stated.
For the period from November 1, 2017 to January 31, 2018 BCL house occupants will pay P300, P350 and P400 for high-density houses depending on the housing grade. For low-density houses rental would range from P1,500 to P3,000, according to the housing grade while hostel rooms will be charged P100 per month.
The correspondence further states that if the occupant wished to stay until the end of January next year the lease will be for three months but if one wants to stay beyond that period then the lease will be for two years.
It also states that former employees who want to stay after October 31 this year must occupy the houses personally and those that are not occupying the houses on full time basis will be given notice to vacate the houses.
“Former employees will not be permitted to sublet the houses nor will they be permitted to use the houses to store their belongings. Unoccupied houses are to be rented to third parties,” it states.
Those vacating the houses are expected to hand back the houses to the BCL housing department and be paid their retention.
Those occupying will also pay their own utilities. Those who are not living in the houses and those who have not handed back the houses must have vacated by the end of October.