Renting in SA without getting burned: the checklist nobody gives you

Every November, South Africans start hunting for next year's rental. And every year, someone signs a lease they haven't read, loses their deposit, or ends up living next to a drug house. Here's what I wish someone told me before my first rental. Before you even view: Know your budget. Rule of thumb: rent + utilities should be under 30% of your take-home. Check the area at night, not just in the daytime. You'll see what the lights don't show you. Ask current tenants (not the landlord) what the building is actually like. At the viewing, check: All taps and geysers — hot water on? All plugs, all lights. Windows open and close properly. Signs of damp or mould on walls. The gate and garage door motors. How loud is the road? Can you hear the neighbours? Cellphone signal inside the unit. (We've all been there.) Bin storage, parking, visitor parking. Read the lease before you sign: Deposit — usually one month's rent. If they want two, negotiate. Escalation — most leases go up 5-8% a year. Know what you're signing. Notice period — usually 20 working days. If it's 60 days, walk away. Utilities — who pays what? Water, electricity, sewerage, WiFi? Get it in writing. Subletting — can you sublet? If not, what happens if you need to leave early? Breakage clause — what happens if you lose your job? Exit inspection — insist on a written checklist at move-in AND move-out, with photos. The scams to watch for: "Landlord" who won't let you view, just wants a deposit to "hold" the place. Walk away. Rent that's way below market for the area. It's either a scam or a nightmare. Photos that look too good. View in person. Asking for cash payment, no receipt. No. The move-in photo list: Take photos of every wall, every tap, every corner, on day one. Time-stamp them. Email them to the landlord with a read receipt. This is your deposit protection. When you move out, they can't claim you scratched the wall. How much should you budget for extras? Deposit: 1 month rent Admin fee: R500-R1500 (negotiate) Utilities: R800-R2000/month depending on unit size Furniture (if unfurnished): budget R15k-R30k for basics What's your rental horror story? Drop it in the comments — we're all here to learn from each other's mistakes.