Why now is the most profitable time to become a landlord

Have you ever wanted to dip your toes into the world of real estate investments? Real estate experts say that now is the perfect time to do so.

“As South Africa’s property landscape enters a new phase of growth and resilience, the rental and property sales markets are aligning to create a golden opportunity for those considering becoming landlords. With robust rental performance, moderating inflation, and consistent housing price appreciation, there has seldom been a better time to venture into residential property investment,” says Adrian Goslett, regional director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.

According to the latest PayProp Rental Index for Q1 2025, the national rental market is experiencing its strongest growth in nearly eight years. The average rent in South Africa climbed to R9,132, reflecting an annual increase of 5.6%, the highest quarterly rental growth rate since Q3 2017.

This surge is especially noteworthy when considered alongside low inflation levels, which averaged 3.2% in January and February, and dropped to 2.7% in March. This widened the rental-to-inflation gap, offering landlords real-terms rental growth not seen in years.

Another key factor making now an opportune moment to enter the landlord market is the record low in tenant arrears. Only 17.0% of tenants were in arrears during Q1 2025, matching the lowest level ever recorded by PayProp.

While South Africa’s residential rental market is surging, house price growth has been slower and more measured – until recently. The Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) published by Stats SA for January 2025 shows that annual national house price inflation was 5.2%, a modest rise from the revised 5.1% in December 2024.

This comes after a period of subdued growth in 2023, when the average annual increase hovered around 1.8%, following even lower rates through much of 2022. However, the momentum is beginning to shift upward.

“This gradual but promising upturn in house prices means that savvy investors can still enter the market while prices remain relatively affordable, before sharper increases potentially take hold later in the year. The current climate offers a compelling mix of capital growth potential and robust rental income streams, particularly in high-demand metros such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Tshwane,” says Goslett.

What’s more, the South African Reserve Bank’s decision to cut the prime lending rate by 25 basis points earlier this year – and further reductions hinted at for later in 2025 –improves affordability for prospective property buyers. Lower interest rates reduce bond repayments, enhancing cash flow potential and return on investment for buy-to-let properties.

“We encourage prospective landlords to speak with one of our property professionals to explore investment opportunities tailored to your financial goals. Whether you’re looking to grow your wealth through rental income, benefit from capital gains, or secure a retirement nest egg, 2025 is your moment to make the move,” Goslett concludes.

Issued by: Kayla Ferguson