The rental rate for a family house in a middle-class suburb is now around R14 000 to R28 000 per month with the average at around R20 000, according to the Seeff Property Group.
Family tenants tend to look for areas with access to good schools and amenities as well as easy access to main arterials for work commutes, say Seeff's rental agents who highlight ten popular areas for family rentals at around R20 000 per month:
1. Randburg in Johannesburg North
Randburg is a solid bet for a budget of R20 000, according to John O Reilly, a rentals agent with Seeff Randburg. You could find a spacious family house, often with a swimming pool and access to good schools. Popular areas include Boskruin and Risidale along with Ferndale, Blairgowrie, Randpark, Sundowner, Sharonlea, and Victory Park.
2. Sandton and Johannesburg North
Rochelle Holland, rentals manager for Seeff Sandton says you can find plenty of apartments including a stunning furnished one-bedroomed apartment in the swanky Michelangelo Towers in Sandton Central for around this rate. There are also houses in areas such as Morningside, Lonehill, Sunninghill, Douglasdale, Broadacres and Fourways. These suburbs offer excellent proximity to Sandton and top schools.
3. Centurion in Pretoria
R20 000 per month is an active price band with stock often in short supply in the Centurion area, according to Tiaan Pretorius, manager for Seeff Centurion. You can get a nice property including a three-bedroomed family house in the Centurion Golf Estate with no load shedding on that side of the estate as a bonus.
4. Pretoria East
PG van der Linde, rentals manager for Seeff Pretoria East says you can find houses, mostly in Moreleta Park and Equestria, but also in desirable neighbourhoods such as Waterkloof Ridge and even in the Woodhill Estate.
5. Blouberg in Cape Town
In contrast, you could find plenty to rent for around R20 000 per month in Cape Town's Northern Suburbs. In Blouberg, you can find townhouses in security estates close to the beach or nice family houses further in around Sunningdale, Table View, and Parklands, often with a swimming pool and good proximity to schools.
6. Southern Suburbs in Cape Town
Although you will find little below R20 000 per month in Constantia and Bishopscourt, you can rent in areas such as Plumstead or Woodstock, says Junaid Fester, a rental agent with Seeff Southern Suburbs.
7. George on the Garden Route
George offers great affordability for families with plenty below R20 000 per month, says Pieter Jordaan, licensee for Seeff George. You can find a nice family house in a golf estate such as Kingswood or a large four-bedroomed holiday house overlooking the Indian Ocean and Outeniqua Mountains.
8. Hermanus on the Overberg coast
Hermanus is a great option for families and is ideal for children. You can find plenty of well-priced rentals including a nice three-bedroomed house in Onrus, a stunning village adjacent to Hermanus renowned for the Onrus beach and eateries such as Milkwood Restaurant.
9. Richards Bay in Zululand/KZN North
Elaine Chetty, licensee for Seeff Richards Bay says the town offers great affordability with plenty to rent below R20 000. If your budget is slightly more, you can rent a large family home with a swimming pool in the exclusive suburb of Meer en See.
10. Mbombela/Nelspruit in Mpumalanga
Generally, the smaller regional cities tend to offer a lot more affordability in terms of rentals. In Mbombela/Nelspruit, you can for example find plenty below this rate and certainly could find a large family house with a swimming pool and good access to schools, says Carien Brink, manager for Seeff Nelspruit.