Renting Property in South Africa

Situated south of the Tropic of Capricorn, South Africa enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate with sunny days for most of the year. With it’s picturesque culture, its numerous local wine estates and laid back lifestyle, South Africa is not only one of the top tourist destinations in the world, but also one of the countries that attracts the most real estate investments and real estate rental deals more often each year in the world.

South Africa is a haven for property rental in both the long term and short term sector because of the economical rate asked for prime properties. There is no doubt that since the announcement of the 2010 Fifa World Cup hosted in South Africa, the property rental market has boomed. Thousands of Fifa World Cup fans are expected in each of the South African cities and the locals have already caught on - by investing in prime South African properties now so that they can be rented to foreigners when the 2010 Fifa Worldcup arrives.

It is major events like the 2010 World Cup and the more recent 2007 Cape Argus Cycle Tour that sends a major boost to the property rental market as property owners know they will have their rental lease signed in no time guaranteed as many will be on the lookout for decent accommodation.

The top 15 popular property rental regions in the Western Cape include the following:

• Camps Bay
• Clifton
• Green Point
• Hout Bay
• Noordhoek
• Robertson
• Swellendam
• Durbanville
• Fresnaye
• Stellenbosch
• Fish Hoek
• Muizenberg
• Somerset West
• Constantia
• Newlands

Choosing the right home for you
With the above being only 15 of the top 50 property rental regions in the Western Cape, South Africa, it must be a nightmare choosing the perfect property. Don’t let the term property rental throw you off course; you might just end up staying in your rental home for as long as the average person stays in the home they’ve bought so you need to have similar standards. You should have a clear indication of what type of home you are looking for, whether you’re a newbie in the property market or a real estate guru.
The type of property you choose depends completely on your lifestyle, for example if you’re a young professional you might be content at the fact of delaying the commitment of buying a property so you might be looking for a fully furnished flat somewhere close to the central city.

Whether you’re in search of the ideal bachelor’s pad or an open plan loft apartment in a prime region of Cape Town, it’s important to make sure that the place is right for you before signing the paperwork. Visit your potential space at least twice at different times of the day, including rush hour, so that you can acquire a general feel for the place. Also make sure that you jot down key questions you should ask your real estate agent about the property, for instance if you’re looking for some peace and quiet it would be in your interests to ask your agent if there are any railway stations close by or any other source of constant noise throughout the day.

The tenant’s legal rights regarding property rental
Moving to a new house can be a stressful period. For the property rental owner at least you don’t have to worry about the responsibilities that come standard with maintaining the premises; that’s the landlord’s duty. Tenants are entitled to reside in the property peacefully without any outside interference from the property owner or landlord. The property owner is not allowed to enter his property without the permission of the tenant as this will be an invasion on privacy. By law the property owner is responsible for maintaining the exterior and structure of the property and should keep it in a liveable condition for the tenant.

The general maintenance of the property would include gas installations, making sure all electronic outlets are in working order, keeping the drains of basins, sinks, baths and other drains around the house unclogged and fixing drain in the event of a clog, geyser installations and making sure that the geyser is in working order. If the tenant has signed an agreement with the property owner regarding the general maintenance of the house, then the tenant is entitled to broadcast a complaint to the environmental health department if the maintenance is not followed through.

Before you sign your leasing contract to rent property in South Africa, you should have asked yourself the following questions:

• Is the area quiet or noisy?
• Do you feel comfortable and safe in the surrounding area?
• How close is the property to the city, supermarkets, schools or your workplace?
• How much is the council tax?
• If you own a car, do you have secure parking on the property?
• Can you afford the monthly rental ?

Whether you’re the expert in property rental, wise to every trick of the trade or a newbie in the property rental market, taking your first steps of independence into the mysterious world of renting can be puzzling. Some property owners are a bit fussier than others and some properties will require a bit more maintenance than others. If you’re serious about renting the best favour you can do for yourself is to check out the property and the property owner thoroughly and make sure that it suits your needs. And establishing a good relationship with your landlord is the first step to ensure that your experiences in your rental property will be pleasant. By Leilah Jumat.

Author Bio:
Fine & Country South African real estate agents have property available across the country with estate agents available to help you find your dream home, whatever your property needs may be.

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