Renting out a house sounds simple.
Find a tenant.
Agree on the rent.
Hand over the keys.
Collect the money every month.
Unfortunately, that description leaves out most of the work.
If you're asking that question for the first time after occupation, some important decisions may already have been missed.
A more sensible approach is to work through the process before the tenant arrives.
Know why you're renting. Know what the house could earn. Prepare it properly. Market it accurately. Assess applicants. Agree on clear terms. Record the condition. Then manage the tenancy.
Here's what needs to happen — in the right order.
Each stage has a purpose. Complete it properly before moving on to the next.
Make the decision
Establish whether renting makes sense for your finances and plans.
Set the rental
Assess comparable properties and choose a realistic asking rent.
Prepare the house
Deal with repairs, cleanliness, practical arrangements and applicable rules.
Advertise properly
Publish accurate photographs, rental terms and property information.
Conduct viewings
Show the house and answer relevant questions about occupation.
Assess applications
Verify relevant information and make a fair tenant-selection decision.
Conclude the lease
Record the agreed terms and arrange deposits and other required payments.
Inspect and hand over
Document the condition and complete the occupation arrangements.
Manage the tenancy
Monitor rent, deal with maintenance and maintain proper records.
Before you rent out the house, decide why you're keeping it.
Perhaps you're relocating. Perhaps you've bought another property. Maybe you want to hold onto the home as an investment.
Your reason matters because it influences the kind of rental arrangement you need.
Someone planning to return home in the future may have different priorities from someone who intends to own the property for another twenty years.
Confirm that you're entitled to let the property on the terms you intend.
Most homeowners can rent out their houses, but your particular arrangements may involve restrictions or other requirements.
Review your authority to let, home-loan terms, insurance, applicable title conditions and any complex, estate or homeowners' association rules.
If the property is jointly owned or belongs to a trust, company or deceased estate, make sure the appropriate person has authority to enter into the lease.
For more detail, read Can You Rent Out Your House?
What will tenants realistically pay for this house?
Don't start by adding up your bond, rates and levies and deciding that the tenant must cover the total.
Those expenses are important to your own financial calculation, but prospective tenants will compare the house with other available properties.
The rental assessment should consider the location, size, condition, security, parking, features, competing rentals and current demand.
An asking rent that is too high may increase the time the property stands empty.
A rental set unnecessarily low may reduce the income you receive throughout the tenancy.
Figures are illustrative, not a local market valuation or income forecast. Actual rental performance depends on the property, demand, vacancies and payments received.
Make the house ready before the first viewing.
A well-maintained property is easier to present honestly and can make a stronger impression during viewings.
Walk through the house and identify maintenance issues that should be addressed.
Fix broken fittings. Check plumbing and electrical problems. Look at doors, windows, locks, gates, bathrooms and outdoor areas.
A fresh coat of paint may help where necessary, but cosmetic improvements should not take priority over important repairs or safety concerns.
Tell prospective tenants enough to decide whether your property suits them.
Good photographs help people understand the property.
A good description helps them decide whether it's worth enquiring.
Your advertisement should accurately describe the accommodation and the relevant financial arrangements.
Property type and suburb
Bedrooms and bathrooms
Parking and security
Monthly rent and deposit
Utility charges
Occupation date
Pet policy and rules
Current property photographs
Don't advertise a pet-friendly property, additional parking or special rights unless those features are actually available and permitted.
Specific information beats vague promises.
A viewing is more than opening the front door.
Once prospective tenants begin making enquiries, you need a practical viewing arrangement.
Confirm appointments, manage access and be ready to explain the property and its rental terms.
The prospective tenant may want to know about security, utilities, parking, fibre availability, pets, nearby amenities and the lease period.
Answer honestly. If you're uncertain, verify the information rather than guessing.
It is also sensible to keep records of enquiries and appointments, protect your own safety and ensure the property's security is maintained during viewings.
The first applicant who wants the house isn't automatically the applicant you should approve.
Once somebody applies, you need to assess their suitability using relevant information.
A friendly conversation at the viewing, a payslip or an offer to pay the deposit does not tell the whole story.
A structured screening process may consider identity, employment, income, affordability, rental history, references and relevant credit information obtained lawfully.
Screening must be lawful, fair and consistent. Personal information should be handled responsibly, including in accordance with POPIA and applicable credit-information requirements.
You don't have to use an agent to advertise your house to benefit from professional screening.
If you've already found an applicant, A+ Properties can assist with tenant screening and, where required, lease and onboarding support.
Approval should be a decision, not a reaction to pressure.
An applicant might be in a hurry to move.
They might offer to pay immediately.
They might explain why their circumstances are unusual.
Those details may all deserve consideration, but the final decision should be based on the relevant application information and lawful selection criteria.
You should not abandon important checks merely to prevent an applicant from choosing a different property.
Put the agreement in writing before occupation.
Once the applicant has been approved, the parties need a clear rental agreement.
A written lease helps establish what each party has agreed to, including payment obligations, occupation, property use and maintenance responsibilities.
Important terms generally include:
The Rental Housing Act provides important rules affecting residential tenancies in South Africa.
The deposit is not simply additional rental income.
The landlord and tenant should agree clearly on the deposit amount.
The deposit must then be handled in accordance with the applicable requirements.
Under the Rental Housing Act, a landlord who directly holds the deposit is generally required to invest it in an interest-bearing account and account for the interest.
If a property practitioner holds the deposit, additional client-money and regulatory obligations may apply.
The eventual treatment of the deposit is also linked to proper inspections, lawful deductions and the refund rules.
Before giving the tenant the keys, record what you're giving them.
The tenancy has been agreed. The lease has been signed.
Now it is time for the incoming inspection.
The condition of the house should be documented jointly with the tenant in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Record existing defects and use photographs where appropriate.
Also document relevant practical handover information such as the number of keys and remotes, access arrangements and meter readings.
The keys have been handed over. The rental process isn't finished.
The property is now occupied.
The ongoing work begins with the first rental payment and continues throughout the lease.
Someone must monitor payments, keep accurate records, attend to maintenance, manage communication and deal with changes to the tenancy.
If you plan to self-manage, establish your recordkeeping and communication procedures before a problem occurs.
If you prefer professional management, appoint someone under a clear mandate so that responsibilities and authority are understood.
You don't have to perform every part of the rental process yourself.
Choose the level of professional assistance that matches your needs and the responsibilities you want to retain.
Before you advertise, sign or hand over keys — check your progress.
We don't begin by asking where to advertise.
We begin by understanding the property, its rental potential and what the owner wants to achieve.
Only then do we move into pricing, preparation, marketing, viewings, tenant assessment and the tenancy itself.
The purpose of the process is not simply to get someone into a vacant house.
It is to establish a rental arrangement that has been properly considered, documented and managed.
Find more A+ Properties property advice through Google.
We publish practical information for landlords, homeowners, buyers, sellers and tenants.
Add A+ Properties to your Google Preferred Sources to help Google highlight relevant content from our website for you in supported Search features.
If the button does not appear, use the direct link:
Add A+ Properties on Google →Continue your landlord journey.
What Do You Need to Rent Out a House?
Check the essentials before your first tenant moves in.
Can You Rent Out Your House?
Understand what may affect your right to let and whether renting makes sense.
Want to Rent Out My Property?
Understand the decisions that shape a rental from the very beginning.
Why Finding the Right Tenant Matters
Discover why tenant selection deserves careful assessment.
Rental Deposits in South Africa
Understand deposit interest, inspections, deductions and refunds.
Tenant Placement vs Property Management
Decide whether you want placement assistance or ongoing management.
Found a Tenant?
Explore screening, leasing and support when you've sourced your own applicant.
More A+ Properties Guides
Explore further information for landlords, buyers, sellers and tenants.
You own the house. Let's get the rental process right.
A+ Properties can help with rental assessments, marketing, tenant screening, placement, lease onboarding and ongoing property management in Boksburg and the surrounding East Rand.
A+ Properties provides residential rental assessments, marketing, tenant screening, placement, lease onboarding and management within the scope of the service selected and the relevant mandate.
Photographs are illustrative Unsplash images and are not A+ Properties listings. The Google Preferred Sources button uses Google's published implementation and requires the website editor to permit Google's external JavaScript. The direct Google link remains available as an alternative.