Accommodation in Johannesburg

One of Johannesburg’s biggest drawcards is its accommodation options. Houses in Joburg are generally big and often come with a patio, a spacious garden and a swimming pool, all of which are highly useful in the city’s sweltering summers. Expats looking for a home in the City of Gold will certainly get a lot of bang for their buck – here, money goes a lot further than it does in pretty-but-pricey Cape Town.

House hunting should be one of the fun parts for expats relocating to Johannesburg. Before the hunt for housing begins, though, expats should decide on the most important aspects. Most expats tend to rent rather than buy property, at least initially or only if they’ll be living in Johannesburg for a short time.

Areas and suburbs in Johannesburg

Both families and young, single expats will be well catered for in Johannesburg. The northern suburbs of Johannesburg, like Sandton, Rosebank, and Bryanston, are some of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in the city, with both single-family homes and apartments available.

Young professionals typically prefer living in lifestyle estates, where you can find everything from swimming pools to restaurants and free gyms. These are becoming increasingly popular, with many new developments popping up all over Johannesburg. The classic but trendy neighbourhoods of Melville, Greenside, and Linden also remain firm favourites among young expats.

For more on the city’s neighbourhoods, read Best (and Worst) Neighbourhoods in Johannesburg.

Types of accommodation in Johannesburg

Size is one of the key considerations when choosing accommodation in Johannesburg. As is typically the case, the size of a family should determine the size of their housing. That said, most expats do live in bigger houses in South Africa than they would at home.

Mostly found in the suburbs of Johannesburg, freestanding houses are spacious and usually have at least two or three bedrooms. These homes tend to have large gardens, either in a wraparound form enclosing the house or split into distinct front- and backyard areas.

The only downside to freestanding homes is that they are protected by nothing more than a fence. You can improve your home security by ensuring the house has an alarm, is fully fitted with burglar bars on all doors and that the house’s surrounding fences can’t be easily breached.

Locally known as ‘flats’, apartments are smaller units of accommodation within one building. They may be bachelor-style, with the main living area also acting as a kitchen and bedroom, or they may be larger, with several bedrooms and a separate living area. Most apartment blocks have controlled access, making them safer than freestanding houses.

Townhouses are units of accommodation connected to an adjacent home on either one side (semi-detached) or both sides (rowhouses). To maximise floor space, townhouses often have more than one storey. These are more affordable and more compact than standalone houses, which may suit younger expats well.

The most secure types of housing are those in security complexes. They are protected by high walls, security cameras, and professional security guards that monitor access around the clock. The peace of mind provided by these gated communities is the reason most expats choose to live in them. Another perk is the sense of community, as well as having access to numerous shared amenities.

Loadshedding in Johannesburg

South Africa’s national electricity provider, Eskom, uses the term ‘loadshedding’ to refer to the rotational or rolling blackouts that it implements when the electricity demand exceeds supply. Areas of the country experience a number of daily blackouts ranging from two to four hours in duration.

You should keep load shedding in mind when looking for accommodation in Johannesburg. Some apartment blocks and residential complexes have access to backup generators, and properties on the same block as a hospital are typically not subject to loadshedding.

Read Accommodation in South Africa for more detailed information on loadshedding.

Useful links

• City Power
• EskomSePush

Finding accommodation in Johannesburg

Once you have narrowed down your wish list to a target area, you can then approach an estate agent. Some larger companies serve the entire Johannesburg area, but there are also smaller ones specialising in certain estates.

It is also possible to find accommodation without the aid of an estate agent by browsing through online classifieds such as Property24 and local newspapers. These let you filter rentals by area, size, and amenities, making the search easier.

Useful links

• Property24
• Private Property

Renting accommodation in Johannesburg

Making an application

To apply for a rental, you will need to submit copies of your passport, bank statements, proof of income and references. Most expats will, of course, not have rental histories in South Africa, but a solid reference from an employer can be a good substitute.

Leases, costs, and fees

The standard lease is 12 months, although they can be shorter or longer by agreement with the landlord. In some cases, if a tenant has been reliable, the landlord may be keen to renew the lease for a further 12 months at the end of the initial lease period.

Some landlords may charge a lease and application fees, which are additional costs you’ll have to budget for. Most landlords will expect a deposit equivalent to one or two months’ rent. If the rental property is returned in good condition at the end of the lease, tenants will receive the deposit back in full.

Read Accommodation in South Africa for more on national rental processes.

Utilities in Johannesburg

Utilities such as electricity are usually an additional expense for renters and are not included in the cost of rent. Although this is slowly changing, it’s not uncommon for the cost of rent to include other, more minor expenses such as water and refuse.

Electricity

Eskom is the main electricity supplier in Johannesburg, while the city’s municipalities may purchase electricity from the state utility provider to supply some areas.

Most rentals and apartments will have prepaid electricity to help tenants manage their consumption independently. To recharge your prepaid meter, you can use the meter number to purchase electricity units from a supermarket, petrol (gas) station, or using your banking app.

Some freestanding homes, especially those in older Johannesburg neighbourhoods, may have postpaid electricity, which means customers pay after consumption. Those with a postpaid meter will typically receive a bill at the end of the month based on their consumption.

Gas

Piped gas is not commonly used in Johannesburg, but most households typically have a gas stove and heater that uses liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). You can easily purchase a gas canister, which comes in different sizes, and have it filled at a hardware shop or a petrol (gas) station.

Water

The state-owned entity Rand Water supplies and treats Johannesburg’s drinking water. Although tap water in Johannesburg is generally considered safe to drink, supply and quality issues have arisen in recent years due to ageing infrastructure.

Many freestanding homes and apartment complexes have boreholes to ensure a consistent water supply. The water account will likely remain in your landlord’s name if you are renting. They will usually send you a copy of the bill from the municipality monthly, and you can then use the provided banking details to make payment.

Your local municipality will frequently base the monthly charge on an estimate, which may be more or less than the actual amount you need to pay. You can avoid this by reading your meter and sending the number to your landlord, who can then update it on the municipality’s app.

Bins and recycling

Waste management in Johannesburg is overseen by the local municipalities. Pikitup is responsible for collecting waste in most of Johannesburg, while the City of Ekurhuleni oversees waste collection in the eastern suburbs of the city.

Most homes and apartment buildings receive a free wheelie bin, which is replaced for a cost should it be lost, stolen or broken. These bins are used to put household waste, which is collected weekly in most neighbourhoods. Your landlord or estate agent can let you know the specific schedule in your neighbourhood.

The best way to recycle in Johannesburg is to sort your waste into general and recyclable waste. On your waste collection day, you can leave your recyclable waste outside next to your bin, and it will be picked up by the informal waste pickers, who sell recyclables for a living.

Internet

Thanks to Johannesburg’s high-quality internet infrastructure, keeping in touch with friends and family will be a breeze. Over the last few years, internet speeds and infrastructure have markedly improved, making it more affordable.

There are plenty of options for internet service providers (ISPs). You can set up a connection by choosing an ISP and contacting them with your proof of identity and address. The ISP will then send out a technician to install and set up the hardware.

Keeping in Touch in South Africa

Useful links

• City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality – City Services
• Afrox and TotalEnergies
• Rand Water and the City of Ekurhuleni
• Pikitup