Review ofHarcourts
Harcourts
2.4|37 reviews
Responds in 76 hours 4 min
BR
Belinda R
1 reviews | Active since Member
20 Jan 2026, 18:40
Piramid schemes making money
We recently app**** for a place to rent. With great excitement we ensured we were.100% transparent on our financial status. Everything was completed, we were told to pay R380,00 to ensure we do not loose the property. We got letters from all the companies we needed to ensure our application is air tight. We disclosed every last detail. Then we were told sorry we could not get the property. We had to submit a load of documents and pay a R380 contract fees. If every family applying for a rental property pays this fee and everything is electronically how much money is made. How convenient is this. Easy money. If you get all the info from experience you should not create false hope and tell potential tenants pay the fee not.to loose the property then you loose it anyways!!!
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Replies (56)Harcourts's replyOfficial
21 Jan 2026, 09:57Hi Belinda, it is standard practice throughout the rental industry to charge an application fee. The below details are on google as well. It is not only our offices that charge this fee.
It is generally legal for South African landlords or agents to charge non-refundable residential rental application fees (typically R150-R350+) to cover vetting costs like credit checks, but they must disclose these fees upfront, and tenants are entitled to a copy of their credit report. While no single law prohibits them, these fees are tied to the Consumer Protection Act and Rental Housing Act, requiring transparency and ensuring costs aren't excessive or hidden, with tenants generally paying only for actual services rendered if they pass initial checks. Key Points on Legality & Practice:
Kind regards,
Esme Colby
Client Experience Liaison
It is generally legal for South African landlords or agents to charge non-refundable residential rental application fees (typically R150-R350+) to cover vetting costs like credit checks, but they must disclose these fees upfront, and tenants are entitled to a copy of their credit report. While no single law prohibits them, these fees are tied to the Consumer Protection Act and Rental Housing Act, requiring transparency and ensuring costs aren't excessive or hidden, with tenants generally paying only for actual services rendered if they pass initial checks. Key Points on Legality & Practice:
- Common & Accepted: Application fees are standard practice for processing tenant applications, including credit and reference checks.
- Non-Refundable: These fees are usually non-refundable, even if the application is unsuccessful.
Kind regards,
Esme Colby
Client Experience Liaison
Best regards,
Harcourts's reply21 Jan 2026, 09:57
Official
Hi Belinda, it is standard practice throughout the rental industry to charge an application fee. The below details are on google as well. It is not only our offices that charge this fee.
It is generally legal for South African landlords or agents to charge non-refundable residential rental application fees (typically R150-R350+) to cover vetting costs like credit checks, but they must disclose these fees upfront, and tenants are entitled to a copy of their credit report. While no single law prohibits them, these fees are tied to the Consumer Protection Act and Rental Housing Act, requiring transparency and ensuring costs aren't excessive or hidden, with tenants generally paying only for actual services rendered if they pass initial checks. Key Points on Legality & Practice:
Kind regards,
Esme Colby
Client Experience Liaison
It is generally legal for South African landlords or agents to charge non-refundable residential rental application fees (typically R150-R350+) to cover vetting costs like credit checks, but they must disclose these fees upfront, and tenants are entitled to a copy of their credit report. While no single law prohibits them, these fees are tied to the Consumer Protection Act and Rental Housing Act, requiring transparency and ensuring costs aren't excessive or hidden, with tenants generally paying only for actual services rendered if they pass initial checks. Key Points on Legality & Practice:
- Common & Accepted: Application fees are standard practice for processing tenant applications, including credit and reference checks.
- Non-Refundable: These fees are usually non-refundable, even if the application is unsuccessful.
Kind regards,
Esme Colby
Client Experience Liaison
Best regards,