Communicare offers Sassa pensioners rental discounts

For the fourth consecutive year, Communicare will be offering rental concessions to pensioners solely dependent on SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants.

Applications for all qualifying Sassa pensioners for rental concessions in 2020 close on Monday November 18.

The discounts will provide financial relief to all senior tenants who have no other form of income, besides their Sassa older person’s grant.

Communicare said last year they were able to give R1 million in rental concessions and R2 million this year.

In addition, many tenants who had fallen on hard times were offered three months “rental holidays” to assist them to recover after some had lost their jobs, suffered serious ill health or the death of a breadwinner.

This benefit amounted to R109 166 this year and helped 27 tenants to avoid taking on new debt or being evicted.

“Based on the surplus, I’m pleased that we can extend the rental concessions for another year. I know times are tough and this must come as a welcome relief to Sassa pensioners,” said Faieda Jacobs, Communicare’s general manager of rental property.

“We cross-subsidise pensioners’ rent as a result of our restructuring. The income this generates is ploughed back into supporting our tenants, especially old age pensioners.”

Last month, 138 new apartments in Musgrave Park opened for new tenants and in November 2020 Communicare will begin construction on 314 social housing units in Phase 3 of Bothasig Gardens.

Communicare hand-delivered concession forms to pensioners in its complexes but the application form can also be downloaded from their website at www.communicare.co.za/useful-info/#documents

Tenants who have queries, can call the toll-free call centre at 0800 266 737 and staff are also available to help with completing and collecting application forms.

Forms should be emailed to rentalconcessions@communicare.org.za or hand-delivered to their office at Block A, Park Lane Office Park,2 Park Road, Pinelands.