Review ofHarcourts
Harcourts
2.4|37 reviews
Responds in 76 hours 4 min
BR
Belinda R
1 reviews | Active since Member
21 Jan 2026, 15:24
Factual process
Following me removed review, I only place the facts on which my review is based. I am not slandering the company I am highlighting the facts based on my personal experience to reiterate to other consumers what processes are!
Facts 1. I was transparent in my rental application 2. I had to pay R380 application fees although my application was rejected 3. I submitted supporting documents with eloboration in unclear facts to ensure all are known 4. I was positive we would get the property as in I quote the agents words - "please pay the R380 fee as I do not want you to loose the property" 5. I was not the main applicant, although my information was solely used to reject the application. 6. The application was declined and I was told my current rent provision where I stay is insufficient and the value I had put for my current municipal expenses would not suffice.
These are the facts on which my review are based. I was told in the agents words - if you have a loan you can not qualify because you then have financial strain. So where should people stay then?
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Replies (109)Harcourts's replyOfficial
22 Jan 2026, 07:12Hi Belinda, yes all agencies follow the exact same processes, and the fee is for credit checks, financial checks, employer verification, as well as to obtain previous landlord references. They usually take 1-2 or at times more applications at once, and if they find that perhaps an applicant has affordability issues, they move on to the alternate application/s. Once they have completed all tenant screening, tenant vetting, or rental background checks, they can then make an informed decision. This is very standard throughout the industry. They are non-refundable application fees, for the background-checks. If a particular property is well sort-after they will say please pay your application fee, so that you are basically in the running as a potential tenant. In this case someone else that also applied and also paid their application fee was successful. This is not an unusual incident. If it was, I would have investigated this matter with the office. Your review is not a negative experience with the office. Your review is about the disappointment not getting the property you applied for, and it always remains at the discretion of the office with regards to placing tenants, which is why I asked Hellopeter to remove your review.
Kind regards,
Esme Colby
Client Experience Liaison
Kind regards,
Esme Colby
Client Experience Liaison
Best regards,
Harcourts's reply22 Jan 2026, 07:12
Official
Hi Belinda, yes all agencies follow the exact same processes, and the fee is for credit checks, financial checks, employer verification, as well as to obtain previous landlord references. They usually take 1-2 or at times more applications at once, and if they find that perhaps an applicant has affordability issues, they move on to the alternate application/s. Once they have completed all tenant screening, tenant vetting, or rental background checks, they can then make an informed decision. This is very standard throughout the industry. They are non-refundable application fees, for the background-checks. If a particular property is well sort-after they will say please pay your application fee, so that you are basically in the running as a potential tenant. In this case someone else that also applied and also paid their application fee was successful. This is not an unusual incident. If it was, I would have investigated this matter with the office. Your review is not a negative experience with the office. Your review is about the disappointment not getting the property you applied for, and it always remains at the discretion of the office with regards to placing tenants, which is why I asked Hellopeter to remove your review.
Kind regards,
Esme Colby
Client Experience Liaison
Kind regards,
Esme Colby
Client Experience Liaison
Best regards,
BR
Belinda R's updateReviewer Update
23 Jan 2026, 04:25Dear Esme,
My disappointment does not lay with not getting the property and please do not assume such. Dont place words in my mouth. The agent who assisted us proposed that we obtain rental referrals from current and previous landlords - which we did. What got to me was being told that Head Office declined the application because if you have a personal loan whether short or long term you are in financial difficulty. Its an insult. If I pay rent and the agent from which I currently rent states I am a good payer on an official letter head and my previous agent also states the same then why treat me like a ********. I felt like a convict with the message and I quote -"you are paying R6000 and made provision for municipal charges of R1800, so you will not be able to pay" . I was nr 1 not the main applicant, nr 2 not going to stay alone on the property. I felt because of the background I disclosed as 2nd applicant in honestly and truthfullness that I got penalized.and bit victimized. I understand a process 100% I have a high end job so I am all for process but the words chosen could gave been more "customer" orientated - which it was not. It did not make any blow softer. it was haesh.
My disappointment does not lay with not getting the property and please do not assume such. Dont place words in my mouth. The agent who assisted us proposed that we obtain rental referrals from current and previous landlords - which we did. What got to me was being told that Head Office declined the application because if you have a personal loan whether short or long term you are in financial difficulty. Its an insult. If I pay rent and the agent from which I currently rent states I am a good payer on an official letter head and my previous agent also states the same then why treat me like a ********. I felt like a convict with the message and I quote -"you are paying R6000 and made provision for municipal charges of R1800, so you will not be able to pay" . I was nr 1 not the main applicant, nr 2 not going to stay alone on the property. I felt because of the background I disclosed as 2nd applicant in honestly and truthfullness that I got penalized.and bit victimized. I understand a process 100% I have a high end job so I am all for process but the words chosen could gave been more "customer" orientated - which it was not. It did not make any blow softer. it was haesh.
BR
Belinda R's update23 Jan 2026, 04:25
Reviewer Update
Dear Esme,
My disappointment does not lay with not getting the property and please do not assume such. Dont place words in my mouth. The agent who assisted us proposed that we obtain rental referrals from current and previous landlords - which we did. What got to me was being told that Head Office declined the application because if you have a personal loan whether short or long term you are in financial difficulty. Its an insult. If I pay rent and the agent from which I currently rent states I am a good payer on an official letter head and my previous agent also states the same then why treat me like a ********. I felt like a convict with the message and I quote -"you are paying R6000 and made provision for municipal charges of R1800, so you will not be able to pay" . I was nr 1 not the main applicant, nr 2 not going to stay alone on the property. I felt because of the background I disclosed as 2nd applicant in honestly and truthfullness that I got penalized.and bit victimized. I understand a process 100% I have a high end job so I am all for process but the words chosen could gave been more "customer" orientated - which it was not. It did not make any blow softer. it was haesh.
My disappointment does not lay with not getting the property and please do not assume such. Dont place words in my mouth. The agent who assisted us proposed that we obtain rental referrals from current and previous landlords - which we did. What got to me was being told that Head Office declined the application because if you have a personal loan whether short or long term you are in financial difficulty. Its an insult. If I pay rent and the agent from which I currently rent states I am a good payer on an official letter head and my previous agent also states the same then why treat me like a ********. I felt like a convict with the message and I quote -"you are paying R6000 and made provision for municipal charges of R1800, so you will not be able to pay" . I was nr 1 not the main applicant, nr 2 not going to stay alone on the property. I felt because of the background I disclosed as 2nd applicant in honestly and truthfullness that I got penalized.and bit victimized. I understand a process 100% I have a high end job so I am all for process but the words chosen could gave been more "customer" orientated - which it was not. It did not make any blow softer. it was haesh.