Tenant Screening in Pretoria East: What Landlords Need to Check Before Signing a Lease

A practical guide for Pretoria East, Centurion and Midrand Landlords: credit checks, POPIA consent, affordability ratios, deposit rules and why tenant risk can shift after move-in, per the latest TPN data.

Why Tenant Screening Deserves More Attention Right Now

The latest TPN Residential Rental Monitor, covering the third quarter of 2025, put the proportion of South African tenants in good standing at 83.95 percent, up only marginally from 83.94 percent the previous quarter. TPN describes this as a clear slowdown after several quarters of steadier improvement. Over the same period, the national non-payment rate rose to 6.15 percent, a figure TPN flags as an early warning sign ahead of the fourth quarter, when household budgets typically come under further pressure.

Rental escalations remain ahead of inflation. National rentals grew 4.76 percent in the quarter against a Consumer Price Index of 3.4 percent, with Gauteng escalating at 4.08 percent. For Landlords in Pretoria East, Centurion and Midrand, the combination of rising rentals and softening payment performance makes thorough Tenant screening, not just a signature on a Lease Agreement, the first real line of defence against arrears and vacancies.

What a Proper Screening Process Should Cover

A credible screening process goes beyond a quick credit score. Kingsmark recommends Landlords work through the following before any Lease Agreement is signed:

• Identity verification: a copy of the prospective Tenant's identity document, checked against the name on payslips and bank statements.
• Proof of income: at least three months of payslips and matching bank statements, to confirm income is consistent and not inflated for the application.
• Employment verification: a direct call to the employer to confirm job title, tenure and, where possible, salary.
• Rental history: references from previous Landlords covering payment punctuality and the condition in which the property was left.
• Credit and affordability check: a formal check through a registered bureau such as TPN, Experian or TransUnion, assessing both credit standing and rental payment history specifically.
• Affordability ratio: as a general guide, monthly rent should not exceed 30 to 35 percent of the applicant's gross monthly income.

Consent and POPIA: The Legal Groundwork

A credit or rental history check may only be run with the applicant's written consent. Landlords must also explain, in plain terms, what personal information is being collected and why, in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act. Practically, this means keeping consent forms on file, storing applicant documents securely, and not retaining the records of unsuccessful applicants indefinitely. Screening decisions should be based on the full picture, income, references and payment history together, rather than a credit score in isolation, and must never rest on race, gender, disability or other protected characteristics.

Kingsmark's own vetting process for managed properties in Pretoria East and Centurion follows this layered approach, combining bureau data with direct reference checks, before any Tenant is placed.

Risk Can Change After Move-In

TPN's data also shows that a Tenant's risk profile is not fixed at the point of application. Across its book, the proportion of Tenants classified as high risk moved from 11.7 percent at application to 13.6 percent once in occupation, reflecting growing reliance on credit among some households during the lease term. This is a reminder that screening is the start of risk management, not the end of it. Landlords who monitor payment patterns through the lease, and act early on late payments, are better placed to avoid a drawn-out arrears situation.

Working With a Managed Letting Service

For Landlords without the experience, time or systems to run bureau checks, verify employment and manage deposit administration correctly, a managed letting service removes much of this burden while keeping the process compliant. The Kingsmark team has many years of experience to notice details in an application that would go unnoticed to a less experienced landlord and we screen every applicant against credit, rental history and affordability criteria before recommending a Tenant. Kingsmark also manages deposits, inspections and lease documentation in line with the Rental Housing Act and POPIA.

If you are letting a property in Pretoria East, Centurion or Midrand and would like your next Tenant properly vetted, contact the Kingsmark team to discuss our managed rental service.