Demand for Improved Services, Fair Billing and Proper Maintenance at Atkinson House
Living at Atkinson House, managed by AFHCO in Johannesburg, has become increasingly challenging due to the deteriorating quality and consistency of services. Residents are concerned that the standard of service delivery does not reflect the rising rent and additional charges we are required to pay.

Our daily lives are repeatedly disrupted by electricity outages, billing issues, lack of hot water, inadequate cleaning and poor maintenance. Residents continue to pay for hot water despite frequently being left without it, while recurring electricity outages create further hardship and inconvenience.

Communication and support during service disruptions are also a major concern. Residents are not consistently informed about outages and are often referred to City Power when reporting electricity problems, rather than receiving meaningful assistance or updates from AFHCO.

We are also concerned about billing transparency and consistency. AFHCO states that certain charges are billed two months in arrears, yet services may be disconnected immediately when payments are not made. Residents need a clear explanation of how billing and disconnections are applied so that we can understand our obligations and manage our finances fairly.

In addition, residents are being charged for repairs to basic fixtures such as lights, plugs and curtain rails, raising concerns about which maintenance responsibilities should reasonably fall on AFHCO and which should be the responsibility of residents.

At the same time, rent continues to increase while the quality and reliability of services appear to be declining. Residents are therefore calling for greater accountability and a review of the value and quality of services being provided.

Through this petition, we are requesting that AFHCO:

Review and clarify the lease terms, billing practices and maintenance responsibilities.
Address recurring electricity and hot-water problems and provide reliable communication during outages.
Improve the cleaning and maintenance of common areas and essential fixtures.
Provide transparent and consistent explanations of billing, arrears and disconnection practices.
Review charges for repairs to fixtures such as lights, plugs and curtain rails.
Improve communication and ensure residents receive proper support instead of being repeatedly redirected elsewhere.
Ensure that rent and service charges are reasonably aligned with the quality and reliability of services provided.
Our goal is not simply to raise complaints, but to see tangible and lasting improvements that allow residents of Atkinson House to live with dignity, safety and greater certainty.

We call on AFHCO to listen to residents' concerns, engage with us transparently, and take meaningful action to improve the living conditions and services at Atkinson House.