A signed, photographed record at the start and the end of every lease — the two reports side by side are what decides a deposit without an argument.
A lease begins and ends with a walk through the property. The Rental Housing Act asks landlord and tenant to do that walk together, and to write down what they find — because a deposit dispute is almost always an argument about the state of a room that nobody recorded.
Sandton Letting Co runs that walk on a phone. Every room is rated, every mark is photographed, and both of you sign before anyone leaves. The report goes to both inboxes within minutes and cannot be changed afterwards.
At the end of the lease the same walk is done again, against the first report. Fair wear and tear is separated from damage with evidence on both sides, and the deposit is settled inside the legal window.
What the Act asks of the deposit, and where each report lands in it.
Before the tenant moves in: the joint inspection, photographed and signed by both. The baseline every later claim is measured against.
The Act asks for the outgoing joint inspection within three days before the tenant vacates. Walked against the ingoing report, item by item.
Only damage — not fair wear and tear — may be deducted, and each deduction is tied to a photographed item on the two reports.
No deductions: the deposit with interest within seven days of the lease ending. Deductions: within fourteen days, with the receipts. Landlord and tenant both hold the reports that justify it.
Tell us the property and when the tenancy starts or ends, and we will confirm a time that suits everyone.