1. Make sure you can let it
Before you advertise, check that you are allowed to let the property, and get the basics in order.
- You are the owner, a person the owner has authorised in writing, or a registered property practitioner.
- If you rent the place yourself, you have the owner’s written permission to sublet.
- Check the rules of the body corporate, homeowners’ association or municipality, which may limit letting or the number of people.
- Fix safety problems first: working locks, safe wiring and plugs, a safe geyser, smoke alarms and sound windows.
2. Write an honest listing
Accurate listings bring better enquiries and fewer wasted viewings, and they are a rule on PropHive.
- Use photos of the actual property, in good light, and show every room.
- State the rent, the deposit, the move-in date and what is included in the rent.
- Say clearly what the tenant pays for separately, such as prepaid electricity, water and internet.
- Do not put contact details in the photos or the title. Use the contact tools on the listing.
- Pause or mark the listing as let when it is taken, and do not post duplicates.
3. Choose a tenant with care
Meet people in person and decide on facts. Treat every applicant the same.
- Reply to people who fit, and ask who will live there and when they want to move.
- Ask for what you need to assess affordability, such as proof of income, and for references from a previous landlord or employer.
- If you run a credit check or collect an applicant’s ID details, get their written consent and keep the information safe. Only keep it as long as you need it, as the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) requires.
- Do not discriminate unfairly, for example on race, gender, religion, disability or family status.
- A Verified badge on PropHive shows that the person has confirmed their email address and mobile number. It is not a check on their income or history.
4. Put it in writing
A written lease protects you both. Give your tenant a signed copy. It should cover the rent and when it is due, the deposit, the length of the lease, notice, who pays for what, and the house rules.
Our guide on what to put in a rental or roommate agreement lists everything to include.
Do not charge a viewing fee or a “holding” fee that the law does not allow, or one that you have not disclosed upfront.
5. Handle the deposit properly
Under the Rental Housing Act, a landlord must keep the deposit safely and the tenant is entitled to the interest on it. This is the usual way it works. Check the Act or ask an attorney about your own situation.
- Keep the deposit in an interest-bearing account, apart from your own money.
- The interest belongs to the tenant, and you pay it back with the deposit.
- Do a joint inspection at the start and again at the end of the lease, and compare them.
- You may deduct for damage beyond normal wear and tear, and the tenant is entitled to see the receipts or quotes.
- Pay the deposit back on time. As a guide, that is within 7 days of the lease ending if the inspection shows no damage, or within 14 days of the repairs being done if there is damage. If the tenant does not attend the inspection, the period is longer.
6. Look after the letting
- Reply to repair requests quickly and keep a record of them.
- Give reasonable notice before you visit the property, and do not enter without agreement unless there is an emergency.
- Never lock a tenant out, cut off their water or electricity or remove their belongings to force them to leave. Only a court can order an eviction, under the Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act.
- If you and your tenant disagree, try to settle it in writing first. The Rental Housing Tribunal in your province can help with disputes between landlords and tenants.
7. If you are an agent or agency
Property practitioners must hold a valid Fidelity Fund Certificate from the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) under the Property Practitioners Act. Add your FFC number to your profile on PropHive. Once our team has checked it, you earn the Verified Agent badge.
This guide is general information to help you, not legal advice. Laws and rules can change, and every situation is different. If you are unsure, ask an attorney or the Rental Housing Tribunal in your province.