Short-term rentals: say what exactly you’re looking for

Short-term rentals in South Africa: rules and prices

Updated 4 November 2026

Short stays in South Africa are quoted per night, and furnished monthly rentals are quoted per month. Rand prices for these in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are not confirmed in our sources yet, so the quickest way to get current figures is a request on BlaBlaPrice, where the AI looks through local sellers and price lists.

• Length of stay: a night, a few weeks or a full month. Monthly rentals are advertised with no lease required and can be renewed month to month.
• Furnishing: fully furnished rentals with a kitchen and wifi are the usual offer for stays of a month or longer.
• City: Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are the main cities in the results, and Cape Town has its own rules on occupancy limits and body corporate requirements.
• Paperwork: whether the property has the municipal approval and business licence that apply where it is.

Local rules and what to check

South Africa has no specific short-term rental regulations, according to one legal guide, and the RHA regulates the relationship between owners and renters. A Department of Tourism code of good practice for short-term rentals is described as a non-binding interim measure, so it is guidance rather than a legal duty. Municipal bylaws, zoning and business licences still apply, and they differ between towns. In Cape Town, check occupancy limits and body corporate requirements before you list a flat or move in.

Season and timing

Seasons run the other way round from the northern hemisphere. November is late spring, summer runs from December to February, and winter from June to August. A stay that starts in November runs into the summer, so ask whether the offer changes for the busier months. Monthly rentals are the usual form for longer stays, and a stay of several weeks can be booked directly.

What to put in your request

State the city, the dates or the number of months, the number of people staying, whether you need a fully furnished flat with a kitchen and wifi, and your budget in rand. If you want a lease-free month-to-month stay, say so, since it is a different offer from a nightly booking. If you need parking, say so as well.

BlaBlaPrice is free for buyers. You describe your stay in your own words in a chat, and a photo can be added. The AI asks for missing details, looks through sellers' websites and price lists, and shows the prices and businesses it finds. Sellers reply in the chat with their own offer, and your contact details stay hidden until you decide. For a specific type, see apartments for daily or hourly rent or hotels and holiday resorts, or read how BlaBlaPrice works.