Is a written lease agreement required in South Africa?

The Rental Housing Act 50 of 1999 requires that a written lease be provided on request by either the landlord or tenant. Oral leases are enforceable, but written leases are strongly preferred — they record the rental, deposit, escalation, term, and house rules, and protect both parties if a dispute arises.

What deposit can a landlord charge?

The Rental Housing Act does not cap the deposit amount, but market practice is 1–2 months’ rental. The deposit must be held in an interest-bearing account with a registered bank and refunded to the tenant within 14 days of expiry of the lease (less any reasonable damages).

How does rental escalation work?

Most leases provide for an annual rental escalation — typically 7–10% — to keep pace with inflation. The escalation rate and effective date should be recorded in the lease so that there is no ambiguity at renewal.

Letting · Document Creator

A residential lease, done in 5 minutes.

Eight guided steps to a Rental Housing Act–compliant residential lease agreement — lessor, lessee, term, deposit, escalation, additional terms. PDF and Word delivered to your inbox.

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Step 1 of 8 — Premises

Premises

The address of the property being leased.

Enter the full physical address of the property being leased. This will appear on the cover page of the lease agreement.

Full Property Address

Include street number, street name, suburb, city, and postal code.

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This tool generates a starting-point document only and does not constitute legal advice. Always have your lease reviewed by a qualified attorney before signing. Get a free attorney review.