Know how to land that lease
SANDTON - The rental property market is a tough one, especially in Sandton where landlords are king, there's a soaring demand and an often limited supply.
This according to Francois Venter, director at Jawitz Properties who said the number of people looking for a place to rent far outweighed the amount of available rentable space nowadays. “This is why it is so important to stand out as a tenant,” he added.
Venter listed factors that should be kept in mind to make a great impression and stand tenants in good stead to land that lease:
- Be realistic
“Be honest with yourself about which rentals you can realistically apply for,” said Venter. “Make sure you’re looking in the right price category for what you can afford. One way of going about this is to set a target, such as deciding on a percentage of your salary that can comfortably go towards your future rental payments.”
- Be presentable
Venter advised potential tenants to have a professional attitude. “Dress to impress and present yourself as the most respectable and respectful candidate the landlord or rental agency will meet,” he added.
- Be sorted
Potential tenants must make sure they have every single document readily available. “Be prepared that the powers that be will want to know everything they can about you,” explained Venter.
- Be honest
“If you’re a smoker, say so, but obviously explain you will be respectful of the smoking policy in place. If you have pets, be honest, and never lie about your credit scores, as there will most likely be a credit check,” advised Venter.
- Know your rental rights
He said once a tenant had secured a property to rent, they ought to keep in mind that there were regulations that gave the tenant some crucial rights in the rental transaction.
