Thinking of renting out your Centurion home? Let’s talk first.

I’m building a rental business around a simple belief: a good rental starts with an honest conversation, before anyone moves in.

A home can be part of your next chapter. First, make sure the rental plan fits your situation. AI-generated illustration; not a listed property.

“It’s a great idea, but not every home should be rented out. Can I ask you a few questions to understand whether this is the right move for you?”

That is how I want to start a conversation with a homeowner considering renting out their property. There is a lot to discuss before we put a rental price on a home and start advertising it.

I have a rental book, and I want to grow that side of my business. I also want to be clear about how I intend to grow it: by taking the time to understand the owner, doing proper checks and making sure people know what they are agreeing to.

The rent is only part of the conversation

For a Centurion homeowner, keeping a property and earning rent from it can be worth exploring. But the monthly rental figure alone cannot tell us whether it makes sense for your situation.

We need to look at the costs, the condition of the home, your plans for it and how much room you have to deal with an unexpected expense or a period without a tenant. If you may need the home back soon, that belongs in the conversation too.

The answers help us decide what to do next. Sometimes renting will fit the owner’s plans. Sometimes we need to prepare the property first, reconsider the numbers or explore another option. I want us to have that conversation early.

Before the keys change hands, make time for the questions. AI-generated illustration.

Do the checks. Pay attention. Ask again.

One lesson I have learnt is that you must do a proper check, but you must also pay attention to your gut. If something does not add up, I would rather stop and ask another question than rush past it.

For me, that means checking the information, following up on references and understanding affordability. A feeling is a reason to investigate further; the decision needs to rest on verified information. Proper screening helps us assess risk, while remembering that people’s circumstances can change.

If I have not explained it clearly, I need to make it right

I believe in being open and explaining things properly. If a landlord misunderstands something because I did not explain it clearly, I cannot simply blame the landlord. I need to take responsibility, clear it up and make it right.

I want a landlord to feel comfortable asking a question twice. That is better than leaving something important misunderstood.

“Who is responsible for what?” is one of the questions that deserves time. Before we start, I want us to work through who handles enquiries, tenant checks, inspections, payment administration and maintenance. We also need clarity about approvals, fees, communication and what happens if something goes wrong.

Those arrangements need to be recorded in the relevant agreements and explained to everyone involved. I want both the landlord and the tenant to know where to turn when they need an answer.

Tax needs a place in the discussion

Tax is another question that comes up. Rental income must be declared to SARS, and certain qualifying expenses may reduce taxable rental income. That does not mean every property expense can be deducted.

I would encourage an owner to keep proper records and speak to a registered tax practitioner about their circumstances. We can discuss the rental plan, with the tax calculation checked by the right person. SARS explains the basics here.

Growing with the right support

The rental-management discussion that inspired this article reinforced something I want to build into my business: reliable processes and people to work with as the portfolio grows.

I offer rental services and work with NRG and Xpello. For an owner considering working with me, I want to explain how the support fits together, who does what and which services and costs apply to their property. Xpello offers support with tenant breaches and the legal eviction process, subject to its membership terms and approval criteria.

The attraction of building a rental business is the opportunity to develop ongoing relationships and recurring income. But that income comes with work and responsibility. There are inspections to arrange, questions to answer and maintenance issues to follow through on.

I want my business to grow because owners understand the service and feel that their property matters to the people looking after it.

A conversation with fellow agents, too

If you are a fellow agent with a rental enquiry to refer, I would welcome a conversation. If you would like to collaborate on rentals, let’s discuss how we could work together and agree on our roles and any referral arrangements upfront.

And if you are considering joining my eXp team, I am happy to talk about that opportunity as well. We can work through the model, the support and what you are looking for in your own business.

Start with your situation

If you own a home in Centurion and are thinking about renting it out, you are welcome to contact me. We can start with your reasons, your questions and the numbers that matter to you.

Before we ask, “How much rent could this home earn?”, let’s ask, “Is renting it out the right move for you?”

Inspired by Family Time: Rental Management training, with my own experience and approach to growing a rental business.

Further reading: SARS: tax on rental income · Xpello: services and membership criteria.

Written for Centurion homeowners and fellow property agents.