For the first time in years, Cape Town’s rental market is oversupplied. With demand low, landlords will need to re-evaluate their rentals and marketing strategies in order to find tenants.
As the heavens finally unleash the winter rains in Cape Town, the same relief is not felt by landlords in the area who are facing unlet properties for the first time in years. “Before property investors throw in the towel, this is by no means a reason to panic. Cape Town is a resilient market and this shift is only a realignment that would inevitably follow the unprecedented growth the area has experienced in the last couple of years,” explains Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.
We noticed a significant shift occur from around October 2017 that saw landlords facing vacancies for the first time in years.
Grant Rea, Residential Sales and Letting Specialist at the Remax Living office that operates in the Cape, says that it is the first time in seven years that he has noticed a shift to an oversupplied and under demand rental market. “As a whole, we noticed a significant shift occur from around October 2017 that saw landlords facing vacancies for the first time in years. Previously, the demand was always significant enough to ensure each property found a great tenant,” he explains.
It is a harsh reality for landlords who have been used to an average gross yield per annum of around 6% and now have to be staring down the barrel of 4.5% to 5.5% yields. But, far from being a hopeless situation, Rea suggests that landlords simply need to reassess the anticipated returns. “Everything rents at the right price as everyone needs a home. There is no question that you will find tenants provided that the rental is competitive,” he advises.
What’s more, landlords might also have to revisit their marketing strategy. Rea mentioned that a search on one of SA’s largest property portals indicated a total of 4,000+ rentals available across the City Bowl and some of the more affordable Atlantic Seaboard suburbs. This excludes a significant number of landlords that are offering their spaces privately across social media platforms and on Community Facebook pages.
“Agents and landlords will need to do just a little more to expose their properties to a wider audience. This includes video marketing and exposure on social media platforms, as well as creative wording for ads that highlight the best features and consequent benefits for a potential tenant. You may want to entice tenants by including extras like Wi-Fi, utilities and services like cleaning,” Rea suggests.
Rather than being an ongoing problem that should raise caution for investors, Rea suggests the following reasons for the shift in an oversupplied rental market:
New Developments
“Developers have taken advantage of the incredible growth and every conceivable space that was available to develop has been snapped up. As these buildings reach completion, the majority of the units go into the rental market. This problem will persist for the next two years or so as new developments are coming online now, with as many as 35 approved development and blocks nearing completion.”
Fall of Airbnb Hype
“Airbnb reached its tipping point during 2017 when the number of units available to let in the City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard reached beyond 10,000. As more units flooded onto the short-term letting market, owners had to price their units more competitively to compete. Eventually, many landlords became disgruntled and have returned to letting long term again, flooding the rental market as a result.”
Semigration Slowed
“The media reports of the impending drought disaster in Cape Town resulted in those planning a move to the Mother City quickly changing their minds. Earning potential in Cape Town was also significantly lower by as much as 22% in certain sectors, as reported by CareerJunction’s salary review in the last quarter of 2017.”
Over-inflated Rent
“With most rental agencies only qualifying tenants who earn at least three times the rental amount and asking at least two months rental as a deposit, this has placed huge pressure on tenants. Combine this with the fact that the growth in income has been disappointing in relation to living costs, and you understand why many tenants have simply decided to move away from more expensive areas and rent elsewhere.”
“If you want to ensure you do not face long, drawn-out vacancies, then it may be prudent to speak to a realistic agent who can help you take a detailed look at the market to ensure that your rent is set at a competitive rate to attract a tenants in this market. Remember, they will be quite aware of the situation and will be seeking the best value possible. If you are facing vacancies, perhaps see it as an opportunity to critically assess the property and make necessary repairs and or upgrades,” Rea concludes.
