10 Things every tenant needs to know

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BUSINESS NEWS - In our experience, people are most at ease when they are fully informed, when they know what to expect and what they can do to avoid or resolve a difficult situation. Whether you rent because you want to or because you have to, being a tenant can sometimes be challenging.

HERE IS OUR LIST OF THE TOP 5 THINGS EVERY TENANT NEEDS TO KNOW:

There are things you can do to raise your status as a prospective tenant
Having a good credit score, references that reflect well on you and the required deposit are critically important to landlords and the real estate agents who represent them. You have control over all these factors! Find out more in our “How to be a 5-star tenant” guide.
Your lease agreement must be read carefully
Do not feel pressured to sign immediately if you need some time to sit with it and go through all the fine print. Your lease agreement ensures that your rental arrangement complies with the law, it governs your costs, the terms of your rental, how your deposit will be handled, inspection and maintenance obligations, compliance with house rules, renewal terms and more. Before signing, read through EVERYTHING.

You should record the state of the property and its contents

When you first move into your new place, be sure to document the contents and condition of the property. Having photographic or video evidence is best as you can benchmark the state of things when it’s time for your interim or exit inspection. If the property is furnished, remember to take photographs of all that’s included e.g. mattresses, crockery and glassware. Take photos of all aspects of the property, including what is in perfect condition too! ...

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BE SAVVY AND SAVE ON UTILITY COSTS AND COST OF LIVING

“Fuel prices are at their highest rate ever and the cost of living is soaring. The knock-on effects for food inflation will add to the woes of South African consumers, many of whom are still reeling from the economic challenges of the Covid19 pandemic,” says Paul Stevens, CEO of Just Property.

“As winter sets in, punctuated by load-shedding hitting an almost unprecedented Stage 6 for most of the country, the outlook is certainly pretty bleak. But South Africa is a nation that can laugh wryly in the face of adversity, send around hilarious memes, take a deep breath and buckle down to make a plan.”

Stevens reminds South Africans, whether property owners or tenants, that savings begin at home. “Many of us learnt to make our own bread, plant veggies and enjoy the simple things in life during lockdown. We can draw on that. But we can also cut our running costs to the bone. And if we continue to make these savings when the good times return, we can save towards that deposit on our dream home.”

But for now, every cent counts, so Stevens and the property experts at Just Property put together a checklist of home areas where savings are to be had.

Small tweaks, big savings

Graham Ross, sales manager at Just Property Blouberg, offers the following saving tips:

Start tracking your expenses: you will be amazed at what you spend your money on. Once you know this, it will be easy to know where to start cutting back. Draft a budget and do all you can to stick to it.
Re-evaluate your subscriptions, e.g. DSTV, Netflix, Spotify and now Disney plus. Do you really need all these services to find some entertainment? Find which one offers YOU the best value and cancel the rest.
Consolidate your bank accounts. Each account you have attracts banking fees. Try to get your accounts into one account and save on those fees. Once you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves.
Reduce your insurance premiums by shopping around for cheaper premiums where the same benefits can be achieved.
Eat at home. It is time for you to test your cooking skills and leave the takeaways alone. By cooking larger meals, you can also freeze the food to be enjoyed later.

Big steps, big breaks

“As a franchise owner, we have a certain responsibility to educate the consumer (our buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords) on what options are available to them to save money and reduce their carbon footprint,” says Lawrence Homan, frachisee of Just Property Margate, Pinetown and Berea...

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