The applicants were long-term tenants occupying flats in a Johannesburg inner-city building owned by the respondent landlord. Their leases contained clauses allowing termination on notice and annual rent escalations at stipulated rates. After acquiring and upgrading the building, the landlord sought to impose substantially higher, market-related rentals. As the leases did not permit unilateral rent increases beyond the escalation clauses, the landlord cancelled the existing leases on notice and offered new leases on identical terms except for the increased rent. The tenants refused, lodged a complaint with the Gauteng Rental Housing Tribunal alleging unfair practices, and resisted eviction proceedings. Despite the pending Tribunal process, the landlord pursued eviction in the High Court. The High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the landlord’s right to terminate the leases. The tenants sought leave to appeal to the Constitutional Court.