Tenants are forking out more for rent, report says

TENANTS in the Western Cape paid the highest average rent last year, followed by those in KwaZulu-Natal.

South Africa’s rental growth over the last quarter of 2021 was “promising” compared to the rest of the year, with the average rent in December increasing by 1.5% year-on-year, reveals PayProp’s Annual Market Report for the year.

This is the fastest rise since July 2020. Rental growth of 0.3% and 0.6% was recorded in October and November. respectively, taking the overall Q4 increase to 0.8%, which translates to average rent going up to R7 906 from R7 854.

“Granted, an increase of R52 per month doesn’t seem like a lot, but the uptick is nevertheless a positive sign,” the report says.

The average national rent for last year was R7 906 a month. For comparison, these are the provincial averages:

WESTERN CAPE: R9 413 – 1.7% increase

KWAZULU-NATAL: R8 386 – 1.9% increase

NORTHERN CAPE: R8 287 – 3.0% increase

GAUTENG: R8 253 – 2.0% increase

MPUMALANGA: R7 791 – 3.8% increase

LIMPOPO: R7 168 – 3.7% increase

FREE STATE: R6 512 – 0.2% decrease

EASTERN CAPE: R6 407 – 2.8% increase

NORTH WEST: R5 382 – 1.8% increase

PROPERTY rent in the Western Cape was the highest in the country last year. PICTURE:GARTH MANTHE/UNSPLASH