Legal Rights & Safety

The Roomla tenant guide

Find a room. Know the costs. Ask better questions. Practical guidance for renting verified micro-units, rooms, and cottages across Gauteng under South African tenancy law.

Transparent Badging Standards

How Roomla verifies listings

Unlike informal classified sites where unvetted middlemen post ghost listings, Roomla labels properties with truthful, verifiable badges stating precisely what has and has not been inspected.

[Identity Checked]

The landlord or property manager's South African national ID or registered entity has been officially confirmed against authorized verification channels.

[Ownership Reviewed]

Municipal rates statements, title deeds, or a formal written landlord-authority mandate have been inspected to verify letting authority.

[Property Visited]

A local Roomla Scout has conducted a physical, geo-tagged site check with verified date, photography, access, and utility sub-meter records.

Protection & Scam Prevention

Zero Viewing Fees & Scam Protection

Under South African consumer protection principles and the Rental Housing Act, landlords and agents cannot lawfully charge tenants mandatory fees simply to view a property. Roomla provides 100% free tenant discovery.

Never send money or e-wallets to anyone claiming you must pay an 'inspection fee' or 'viewing deposit'.

Look for Roomla's three official verification badges on every listing: [Identity Checked], [Ownership Reviewed], and [Property Visited].

Always attend scheduled viewings or request a documented video walkthrough before paying any move-in monies.

Plain-Language Contracts

Section 5 Rental Housing Act Leases

Informal, unwritten verbal agreements leave tenants vulnerable to arbitrary lockouts or sudden rent spikes. Roomla provides standardized, plain-language written leases with digital signature verification.

Clear terms specifying the exact monthly rental amount, payment due dates, and included utilities (water, prepaid electricity tokens, sanitation).

Explicit house rules, visitor guidelines, and quiet hours agreed upon by both landlord and resident.

Time-stamped digital breach and rent-demand notices served via registered channels if issues ever arise, fully compliant with the PIE Act.

Deposit Safeguarding

Lawful Deposit Receipting & Bank Interest

Your security deposit must be handled with strict financial integrity. Under the Rental Housing Act, security deposits may not be commingled with everyday business trading cash.

Every move-in deposit and first month's rental payment is formally receipted with a unique digital reference.

Deposits must be held in an interest-bearing account for the duration of your tenancy, with accumulated interest credited to you upon compliant exit.

Statutory exit timelines: after the joint exit inspection, undisputed deposits are refunded within statutory timeframes.

Joint Inspections

Mandatory Move-In & Exit Photographic Checks

Disputes over pre-existing damage are the #1 cause of lost deposits. Roomla champions mandatory joint inspections conducted by our local Scouts or property officers.

Both you and the landlord or Roomla Scout inspect the premises before any furniture or belongings are moved in.

A date-stamped photographic checklist documents the condition of plugs, door locks, windows, tiles, and fittings.

You receive a signed digital copy of the incoming condition report, ensuring you are never held liable for pre-existing wear and tear.

Living & Maintenance

Digital Maintenance Logging & Dispute Support

Landlords are legally obligated to maintain habitable premises, safe electrical fittings, and functioning sanitation. Roomla provides transparent maintenance tracking.

Log maintenance issues through our digital portal or via WhatsApp with photographs and urgency levels.

Emergency repairs (burst geysers, main gate lockouts, sewer blockages) receive rapid triage within 24 hours.

Access to mediation and formal Rental Housing Tribunal (RHT) filing support if unresolved disputes occur.

Protection Against Unlawful Evictions (PIE Act)

No landlord can legally lock you out, disconnect your power or water, or remove your possessions without an order granted by a competent court. If you experience an unlawful lockout, contact the Rental Housing Tribunal or our support line immediately.

Have questions or suspect a viewing scam?

Our tenant support desk is available to verify listings, explain lease terms, and report suspicious classified adverts.

Tenant Services Contact Support