Renting in South Africa, as is the case in many countries, is a viable alternative to purchasing property for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that you need not commit to any one region or area for very long. Lifestyle varies markedly between the interior cities such as Johannesburg and Pretoria and coastal ones such as Durban and Cape Town and renting provides an effective, relatively easy way to sample each of these areas. Renting property is a relatively simple process:

There are an inordinate number of real estate agents, both big and small, all across the country, and property listings are available in the 'classified' section of most major newspapers. Rental property is available for every taste and budget and includes townhouses, cluster houses, apartments, garden cottages, farms and houses.

When renting property, the tenant pays no fees to the estate agent for their services, but a deposit of a single month's rent is usually required before moving in. Also, be aware that in some cases it is the tenant's responsibility to have the water and electricity connected or activated.