Tenant Left Overs

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Renting newly built condos, flats or apartments, instead of 50 year-old ones has its advantages. They might be smaller, walls thin, neighbors’ toilet flush a constant sing song and have open plan, but they do not have tenant left-overs. 

Landlords must paint before new tenants move in but unscrupulous landlords don’t. Despite the fresh coat of paint, previous tenants leave certain details behind.

They forget re-directing mail to the new address, so bills give the new tenant some clues. The previous tenant was Sean or Susan, Hassan or May Ling. Mail delivery also shows their credit cards, schools they attended, political and religious affiliation.

But, a new tenant doesn’t know why birds peck on the kitchen window ledge, even when it’s snowing. It's because the previous tenant used to buy bird feed for his extended family, but didn’t say goodbye.

A new tenant might not understand why someone throws stones at his window on Fridays. It happens so often, he finally gets it. The stone thrower doesn’t know the previous tenant left. Is that why he/or she moved?

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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