36 Years of Age
That's the new average age of a first time home buyer in South Africa... Property prices are rising. Credit requirements are stricter. Even career paths don’t look the same as they used to.
The Result?
Renting has become a major part of modern life. Many professionals are renting high quality homes for 3–5 years, often even longer. But after all that time and money, they leave with nothing to show for it.
So we started asking ourselves:
Should renting remain an expense?
OR
Could it be the start of your asset-building journey?
Help us define a new rental model that helps the next generation access property wealth
Tenant Survey
Explore how aligning with a new, financially savvy rental class can catalyse your portfolio's growth
Owner Survey
South Africa's housing landscape is evolving through the institutionalisation of the Build-to-Rent / Multifamily sector under SAMRRA. Simultaneously, there are fractional ownership models emerging internationally, but not every idea fits into every market.
Our mission is simple:
Help working professionals build real property value while renting.
We’re exploring a new rental model where long-term tenants can build equity in their rental home. This allows for a more affordable way to get on the property ladder, without needing to commit to a 20-year home loan.
This is not to replace ownership but creates a new step on the property ladder between just renting and full ownership. In simple terms, it’s an attempt to rethink rent-to-own mechanics to match the period many South Africans are already spending in the same rental home.
Questions you may have:
Is this rent-to-own?
No, this is not about buying a home but building a share of the property while you rent. When you leave, you receive the value you’ve built as a payout.
Do I need to commit for years?
Yes, this is designed for tenants planning to stay 3–5 years. That’s enough time to build a real stake while helping property owners keep stable, long-term tenants.
What’s the catch?
That’s exactly what we’re trying to understand: what would make this fair, safe, and worthwhile for both owners and tenants.
We believe there is a growing group of renters who want more than just a place to live. We’re interested in building just that, an affordable way for them to make their rental years count.
Rent Plus Pty Ltd is a platform being developed to explore affordable avenues for South Africans to access property. As the next generation of tech-savvy professionals matures, we see an opportunity to create new structured ways to help them participate in the R6.9 Trillion residential property market.
"By tapping into South Africa’s homeownership culture, this product could introduce property owners to a new class of renter: performance-aligned tenants who commit for the long term, enhance income durability, and reduce portfolio turnover volatility."
Founded by young property and finance professionals, Rent Plus Pty Ltd is being designed in consultation with legal, property and finance experts to ensure it is viable within South Africa's existing regulatory frameworks.
This forms part of an early validation phase, informing potential pilot projects with partnering property owners and developers.
Do you want to follow the research or hear about future pilot opportunities?
You're on the list. We'll be in touch.
Or take the research survey with Pandora.
Tenant research surveyWould like to reach out to us? hello@rentplus.africa