New year, new rental? Tips for finding the perfect rental home

There are many advantages to being a tenant. You've got all the flexibility you could want, you've got a place you can comfortably afford without any extra bills to worry about and your home is typically secure, with everything you need close to hand. One of the few downsides to renting is that it often means looking for a new home more often than a homeowner would. The CSi Property Group provides some tips for finding the right rental property and saving money - and reasons why Gauteng is an excellent place to call home if you're a tenant.

Tips for finding the right rental property

The golden rule for finding a great rental home is this: start looking as early as you can. For example, if you know you have to move out of your current rental home at the end of March, start looking in late January. Listings that you see available in April may initially be few and far between, but you'll be the first to know about great homes that become available. If you leave your property search for the last minute, you may find yourself settling for a property that's not quite right for you, or paying more than you would have liked to.

Another important strategy is to have a list of non-negotiables and nice-to-haves. Your non-negotiables could include things like "We have a child, so we need two bedrooms" or "I work from home, so my home needs to include a working area". Nice-to-haves might include things like "it would be nice to have a swimming pool" or "a balcony with a braai area would be great". If you have these lists ready, you'll know at a glance whether or not a property will be suitable for you and your family.

Ways to save money when renting a property - and ways you shouldn't try to save

You need a roof over your head and you want a home that you're going to love, but you don't want to pay more for it than you need to. Factors that can help you pay less for a great property include being flexible about where you live, having less non-negotiables on your list and being willing to compromise on space. If you're a single person or a childless couple, do you really need a spare bedroom? If the answer is no, you are likely to be able to save on your rent.

If you look on Facebook, Gumtree or other websites, you're likely to find a wide range of granny flats available for rent - often very cheaply. Be very wary of going this route. For starters, your landlord is likely to be renting out the flat privately, without the knowledge or experience that a property practitioner has. There may not even be an official lease agreement in the deal. Secondly, while these granny flats are advertised as being "secure", they are often anything but secure. Many have just flimsy burglar guards and no alarm systems or security surveillance. If you rent a property within a sectional title, you will have a much safer space to call home.

Why Gauteng is a great place to call home

Over and above the abundance of jobs and wide range of things to love about Gauteng, the province makes a great home because of its affordable rentals. In many areas of Johannesburg and Pretoria, it is possible to rent a one or two-bedroom home for less than R7 000 per month. In various other parts of the country, you are likely to be hard-pressed to find such a home for under R10 000 per month.

If you're looking for a new rental home in Gauteng, you can trust the team of real estate experts from the CSi Property Group to help you find the right home.