Rental agency fees in Cape Town are rarely published. Most agencies will not put a number on their website. We will.
The Property Bureau charges 11.5% of monthly rent collected for a full management, fully inclusive service.
What “collected” means
If an agent charges on rent due rather than rent collected, they are paid whether or not your tenant pays. We charge on collected rent, so an arrears month costs us too.
What the fee includes
Tenant sourcing and vetting through PayProp and TPN, lease drafting compliant with the Rental Housing Act, monthly rent collection through a PayProp trust account, arrears management, ingoing and outgoing inspections with photographic record, monthly owner statements, and annual reviews and renewals.
What the fee does not include
The fee covers our service. The costs that belong to the property remain yours: municipal rates and levies, building insurance, compliance certificates, and the cost of any maintenance work.
What the tenant pays, and what the landlord does not
These are tenant costs. They are not deducted from your rent, and they are not part of your management fee. They are set out here because they are often quoted back to landlords as though they were.
- Deposit. Paid by the tenant, as per the lease agreement.
- Credit check fee. Paid by the tenant, R150 per applicant.
- Lease fee. Paid by the tenant, R1 000 once off.
- Incoming inspection fee. Paid by the tenant, R500.
- Monthly administration fee. Paid by the tenant, R95.
The landlord pays one fee. Full management is a flat 11.5% of monthly rent collected, fully inclusive, no extras. Tenant placement on its own is 7.5% of the annual rental, collected once in month one. Full tenant information is here.
Choosing on price
A percentage point on a R15,000 rental is R150 a month. One month of vacancy on the same property is R15,000. Fee matters, but it is not the number that decides your return.
We are PPRA registered and we let and manage across the Southern Suburbs, from Rondebosch and Claremont through to Constantia and Wynberg, as well as the Atlantic Seaboard and False Bay. You can see what full management covers, read more about our Cape Town property management service, or request a free rental valuation.
Selling a property, and what we charge
We sell as well as let, and most of our sales come from landlords we already manage for. The person who has run your property for years already knows its rental history, its condition and its buyer.
- Existing management client, sole mandate. 3.5% of the sale price achieved.
- New instruction, sole mandate. 4% of the sale price achieved.
- Open mandate. Quoted on the property, and higher than a sole mandate.
Commission is calculated on the price achieved and accepted in the offer to purchase, and is payable on transfer. An open mandate costs more, for the same reason we charge on rent collected rather than rent due. On a sole mandate we invest in marketing knowing we are paid if the property sells. On an open mandate that same work can earn nothing, so the rate carries the risk. More on selling your property, or see full landlord services and fees.
Common questions
What does The Property Bureau charge to manage a rental property?
11.5% of monthly rent collected, for a full management, fully inclusive service.
What does “rent collected” mean?
We are paid on rent that actually arrives, not on rent that is due. If the tenant does not pay, we do not earn on it either.
What costs stay with the landlord?
Municipal rates and levies, building insurance, compliance certificates, and the cost of any maintenance work.
Should I choose an agent on fee alone?
No. One month of vacancy usually costs more than a year of the difference between one agency’s fee and another’s.
How much commission do estate agents charge in Cape Town?
Commission is negotiable and is set in the mandate, not by law. The Property Bureau charges 4% of the sale price achieved on a sole mandate for a new instruction, and 3.5% on a sole mandate where we already manage the property. Open mandates are quoted on the property and cost more, because the marketing investment is the same but may earn nothing. Commission is calculated on the price accepted in the offer to purchase and is payable on transfer.
Are the tenant fees deducted from my rent as a landlord?
No. The credit check fee, lease fee, incoming inspection fee and monthly administration fee are paid by the tenant. The landlord pays a flat 11.5% of monthly rent collected for full management, fully inclusive, with no extras.
Do you charge less to sell if you already manage the property?
Yes. Existing management clients pay 3.5% of the sale price achieved on a sole mandate, against 4% for a new instruction on the same terms. The service is the same either way.
Market data: PayProp Rental Index. Reviewed August 2026.
