Rental scams in South Africa: how to spot and avoid them

Rental scams are common in South Africa. The tactics are well known, but they still work because scammers rush tenants who are desperate to find a place.

A typical scam starts with a listing priced well below similar units in the same suburb, so enquiries come in fast. The 'landlord' then says they're travelling or working abroad and can't show the unit, and asks for a deposit or 'reservation fee' to hold it while the paperwork is arranged.

Other warning signs: the landlord refuses a video call, the photos also appear on unrelated sites, they push you to pay by a method that can't be traced, or they want you to sign a lease before you've seen the unit.

The simplest protection is to pay nothing until you've seen the property, in person or on a live video call. On the call, ask them to show you the front door, the street and the inside of the unit while you watch. A real landlord has no reason to refuse.

Check ownership too. Ask for a recent utility bill or rates account in the landlord's name, or look the property up on the municipal valuation roll where it's available. If the 'landlord' has an excuse for every check, walk away.

On LetDirect, every listing is checked by hand before it goes live, and verified listings carry a badge so you can see which ones we've checked.