Come prepared and sign the papers

GERHARD Kotze, managing director of the RealNet estate agency group, says many new tenants are unfamiliar with what is required in order to rent. Here are his tips:

• Come prepared: Have your ID, proof of current residence (even if it is your family home where you lived before coming to the city), bank statements, driver’s licence, proof of employment or of registration at your education institution. Students must bring official notification of any student loans, bursaries or rent assistance they will receive from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

• Accept your credit history will be checked: Even if you don’t have a bank account and have never applied for credit, it must be established that you have no outstanding judgments, have not been blacklisted, do not have a history of defaulting on rent elsewhere, and do not have a criminal record. An agent can only do this with your permission. • Be prepared to pay a deposit of at least one month’s rent: You may also be asked to pay a deposit for municipal services like water and electricity. Reputable agencies and landlords will never ask for a deposit before you have seen the property and decided to rent it. People who pressure you to pay to “book” the property are probably fraudsters.

• Do not expect to just move in: You will have to complete the application process, sign a proper lease, and pay your deposit – all of which could take a few days.

• Sign a written lease: A lease protects you and the landlord. It should state the term of the rental agreement, how the property can be used, how many people can stay there, who is responsible for the condition of the property when you move in and when you leave, the monthly rent, the deposit due, and the rules and regulations of the building or complex, among other things.

• Make sure you understand the conditions of the lease before you sign it: Pay particular attention to the term of the lease, the total monthly rent, any other costs, where and when you must pay the rent, and what can happen if you do not pay on time.

It is also important the lease says what will be done with your deposit, and what you have to do to be refunded at the end of the lease.

• Ensure the lease explains your rights: These include your contracted rights under the Consumer Protection Act, how much advance notice you must give if you end the agreement, and where to contact your nearest rental tribunal if you end up in a serious dispute with your landlord.