- Set a budget first. Add rent, electricity and water if not included, Wi-Fi, transport to campus, and groceries. A cheaper room far from campus can cost more once transport is added.
- Decide your type. A room in a managed student residence (usually all-in, higher price), a room in a shared flat or house (cheaper, more variation), or a full flat (only worth it if you split it).
- Pick your area by campus. UP: Hatfield, Akademia, Sunnyside. TUT main campus: Pretoria West and Philip Nel Park. Arcadia is central to both. Our area pages give current ranges.
- Start early. Good rooms near UP fill up in the months before the January intake. Many residences ask for payment on registration (deposit, fees and the first month's rent).
- View in person, in daylight and at night. Walk the route to campus. Check security, noise and the water pressure.
- Ask who the landlord is. Is it the owner, a company or an agent? Get names and contact details in writing.
- Get everything in writing. The rent, what is included, the deposit, the lease period and the rules. Never pay into a personal account without a signed lease and a receipt.
- Have a parent or guarantor read the lease before you sign.
- Move in with a condition checklist. Photograph everything and email the photos to the landlord on day one.
Scam warning: Be wary of anyone who asks for a deposit before you have seen the room, will not meet, or rushes you. Check the property is really theirs.