The Property Corner with Rowan Alexander

Can the government decide which estate agent you’re allowed to use?

A recent Pretoria High Court judgment has thrown a major question into South Africa’s property industry: what happens when BEE compliance becomes linked to an estate agent’s legal ability to operate?

The court declared part of the Property Practitioners Act unconstitutional and invalid, not because BEE itself is unconstitutional, but because the legislation failed to provide sufficient clarity around what constitutes a valid BEE certificate.

So what does this actually mean for estate agents, homeowners, sellers, investors and developers?

Could government regulation indirectly limit your choice of property practitioner? What happens next? And where should the line be drawn between transformation, regulation, competition and consumer choice?

Rowan Alexander unpacks the judgment, what it means right now, and why this could be much bigger than an estate agent regulatory dispute.

This isn’t just about agents. It could affect who you’re legally allowed to choose when you sell your property.

Should government be able to determine which estate agents you are legally allowed to use by making a particular transformation certification a condition of the agent's right to practise? Watch the latest episode on The Property Corner YouTube channel and let me know what you think.

In this episode:
00:00 Introduction
02:38 What actually happened?
03:38 The court didn't say BEE is unconstitutional.
04:57 What does this mean if you’re selling your house?
06:22 So, here’s the question I want to ask you.
06:58 What the court did and what it means for estate agents right now.
07:50 But let's be fair: why does the state want this?
08:53 The big question: what happens next?
09:34 Another interesting part of the judgment.
10:31 So, where do I stand on this?
11:19 A question I want to leave you with.

#PropertyCorner #PropertyLaw #BEE #EstateAgents #SouthAfricanProperty

Subscribe to us on your favourite podcast platform :
Youtube: http://youtube.com/@propertycornerza
Spotify: https://shorturl.at/horJT
Apple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/alFG7

Is Cape Town really coming for Airbnb?

The City of Cape Town’s proposed new short-term letting by-law could significantly change the economics of Airbnb and other short-term rentals.

In this episode, we unpack what the proposed rules actually say, including mandatory registration, data sharing, the 50% availability threshold, commercial property rates, and potential penalties.

But the bigger question is what happens next.

Could your property rates increase by around 2.5x? Could some Airbnb investors shift back to long-term rentals? And what could this mean for sectional title schemes, body corporates, HOAs and property values?

We cut through the headlines and look at the actual proposed legislation, the numbers, and what it could mean for Cape Town property investors.

This is not just about Airbnb. It could have implications for the wider Cape Town property market.

In this episode:
00:00 Introduction
02:58 What exactly is the City proposing?
04:33 The City wants the data.
05:20 The 50% threshold: this is the BIG one.
08:45 A property can cross the line without being fully occupied.
10:14 What happens if you cross the threshold?
11:26 Example of a property with a municipal valuation of R3 million.
13:32 And there's another potential sting.
16:33 What about Body Corporates?
17:43 This creates a very interesting building-level issue.
20:40 Does this create an additional burden on the Body Corporate?
21:49 What happens to investment returns?
22:41 Could this push investors back toward long-term rentals?
23:52 And what could that do to Cape Town property prices?
26:09 THE BIG QUESTION
28:49 How body corporates and HOAs might start interpreting this.

#CapeTownProperty #Airbnb #PropertyInvesting #ShortTermRentals #CapeTownRealEstate

Subscribe to us on your favourite podcast platform : Youtube: http://youtube.com/@propertycornerzaSpotify: https://shorturl.at/horJTApple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/alFG7

In this episode of The Property Corner, Rowan responds to viewer comments from the “The Economic Transformation of Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs” episode. From traffic congestion and major road upgrades to the shortage of high schools, rapid residential development, new private and government schools, and the growing need for office space and public transport, the discussion looks at how areas like Durbanville and Brackenfell are evolving.

The Northern Suburbs are becoming increasingly central to Cape Town’s growth, bringing both challenges and opportunities for residents, businesses and property owners.
 
In this episode:
00:00 Introduction
00:15 Heavy-Duty Traffic Is Becoming a Major Problem
02:31 Not Enough High Schools
06:01 New Schools and Affordable Education
06:31 Rapid Growth and the Strain on Infrastructure
08:30 Durbanville’s Growth and Rising Municipal Costs
10:17 Not Enough Upmarket Restaurants Around Brackenfell
 
#NorthernSuburbs #PropertyMarket #PropertyInvestment #CapeTownDevelopment #CapeTownGrowth

In this episode, we take a visual walkthrough of the new PayProp Quarterly Rental Index for Q1 2026 and unpack what the latest data tells us about South Africa’s residential rental market.

We look at rental growth, average rental values and tenant arrears across the country, including the standout performance of the Western Cape and Northern Cape, as well as the provinces showing signs of slowing growth.

But the numbers only tell part of the story. We also look at what the data could mean for landlords and investors as rising interest rates and the increasing cost of living begin putting pressure on tenants and rental demand.

Most importantly, we move beyond the Q1 numbers and consider what they could mean for the rental market for the rest of 2026, including why tenant retention may become more important than rental escalations.

Watch the full visual walkthrough of the new PayProp Quarterly Rental Index and follow along as we break down the numbers and what they could mean for property investors and landlords.

In this episode:
00:00 Introduction
04:17 National Statistics
06:35 Provincial Statistics
13:28 National Payment Behaviour
14:34 In Closing

If you’d like to explore the report yourself, here’s the link to the PayProp Quarterly Rental Index for Q1 2026: https://www.flipsnack.com/B77B9BAA9F7/rental-index-q1-2026?utm_campaign=117554417-SA%20-%20PayProp%20Rental%20Index&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9UxGWq5HjIiE462lL3m7qM6PKtR3QM07-vgviqKrxWrGAhLFneldaY1v4a87EpKMH_GwruQPrVAoPwtgRbDJQ1zrOQNg&_hsmi=141952045&utm_content=141952045&utm_source=hs_email

#PayPropRentalIndex #SouthAfricanProperty #RentalMarket2026 #PropertyInvesting #RentalProperty

The biggest cost of owning a home isn't always your bond anymore.

In this episode of The Property Corner, we explore why today's property buyers need to think beyond the monthly bond repayment. Rising municipal charges, security costs, insurance, maintenance, levies and utility inflation are changing what true affordability looks like.

Using practical examples, we explain why the total cost of ownership has become one of the most important factors when buying property, how these costs can grow over time, and why many homeowners are feeling financial pressure despite keeping up with their bond repayments.

We also discuss:
Why affordability is no longer just about qualifying for a home loan.

How municipal charges and maintenance can overtake your bond repayment over time.

The hidden costs many buyers overlook before purchasing.

Whether estate living is really more expensive.

How to budget for long-term homeownership and avoid future financial strain.

If you're planning to buy property, already own a home, or want to make smarter property decisions, this episode will help you look beyond the purchase price and understand the real cost of owning a home.
 
In this episode:
00:00 Introduction
00:50 The Bond Has Become the Smaller Part of the Equation
02:03 Municipal Charges Are Growing Faster Than Many Realise
04:46 Security Upgrades Are No Longer Optional
06:14 The Silent Killer: Maintenance
07:21 Estate Living Isn't Always More Expensive
09:42 The New Affordability Calculation
 
Subscribe to The Property Corner for practical property insights, and let us know in the comments which property topic you'd like us to cover next.

#PropertyInvestment #HomeOwnership #RealEstateSA #PropertyFinance #HomeLoan

Subscribe to us on your favourite podcast platform : Youtube: http://youtube.com/@propertycornerzaSpotify: https://shorturl.at/horJTApple Podcasts: https://shorturl.at/alFG7