Securing a flat in the Cape Town City Bowl (We got it!)

It’s a Friday afternoon. I’m sitting at my desk counting down the minutes to the weekend. My phone rings. It’s my flatmate. She must have news. We’ve been waiting to hear back from the agent for 5 days now. If she’s calling, it’s either really good or really bad. I pick up. ‘We got it!’ ‘Really?!’ ‘Yes!’ Tears…

True story – we did both cry indeed when we found out that after months of scouring the city bowls, countless viewings, hard-hitting rejections, we had found our home.

But we had been so focused on getting an accepted rental application, we hadn’t given one thought to what we would need to do after. And we have one week – yes, you heard that right – one week, to sign the lease, pay the deposit and move in.

So here’s everything you need to know about what it takes to secure an apartment in the Cape Town City Bowl. So strap in – this is where the fun begins.

• The apartment we finally chose
• The rental application process
• Locking in the lease, deposit and first month’s rent
• What I would tell someone trying to secure a Cape Town rental
• Everything we need to do before moving day
• It’s time to make the wise move

And if you’re new here, you can catch up on the beginning of our Cape Town moving journey here:

• Part 1: Why I’m moving to Cape Town City Bowl in my mid-20s
• Part 2: What apartment hunting in Cape Town is really like

The apartment we finally chose

So funny story… the apartment that we finally chose was actually one of the first apartments we viewed. It was kind of like that cliché where a woman tries on 15 dresses, only to pick the first one she tried on.

In our defence, we viewed it immediately after the first apartment we fell in love with and applied for. So our hearts and minds were somewhere else. We didn’t even take photos or videos of the place.

Lesson learnt: Don’t let one amazing viewing stop you from seeing the potential of another one.

But once the new listings started drying up, I went back to this one, started looking at the listing photos (regretting not taking my own), and started to see it for what it truly was – it actually ticked a lot of our boxes.

Plus, the rental price had been reduced after sitting for so long, making it really affordable. This made it look really pretty.

How does it stack up against our wishlist?

After weeks of refining our wishlist, here’s how the apartment we actually chose measured up:

So does it tick all of our boxes? Maybe not. But it ticks most of them – which is pretty incredible considering the price.

When we think about that first apartment we applied for (that distracted us from this one), it would have been R1.5k extra every month. That’s R36k more a year, for slightly more modern furnishings, a slightly better view, and 4 flights of stairs.

The girl math gods are on our side for this one.

The rental application process

Let’s hit rewind for a second and go back to before we got our ‘yes’. What was the process that led to our successful rental application?

Well, once we had decided to give this one another try (over a month after viewing it), my flatmate reached out to the estate agent and asked for an application.

What was included

For this rental application, we had to provide:

• Completed application form
• 3 months of bank statements
• Copy of ID
• Proof of address

Things we did differently for this rental application

After two failed applications, we were determined not to make the same mistakes and give this one the best chance to succeed. Here’s what we did differently:

• Had all our documents ready and sent in the application as soon as possible.
• Submitted bank statements from both of my accounts that receive income.
• Added extra notes to the application form to explain the complexities of my financial situation and avoid any confusion.
• Communicated off the bat that one of our parents was open to signing for surety.

This is obviously very dependent on our own situation. Your life may have its own complexities that you need to consider.

In the wild wild west of the Cape Town rental market, the most important thing for a successful application is to be clear and quick.

How long it took from application to approval

When you’re waiting to find out your fate, days can feel like years. 

It took 5 days for our offer to be accepted. In this period, we weren’t hedging our bets and were still looking for other options and viewing new apartments.

Once our offer was accepted, it took 7 (painful) days for our application to be approved by the landlord – queue the tears. And because the apartment was available immediately, we set the move-in date for the following weekend.

All in all, in just 20 days we’ll go from submitting our offer to moving in. That’s the Cape Town rental market for you. But first, we had to lock in the lease.

Locking in the lease, deposit, and first month’s rent

If renting an apartment is like a marriage, getting your application approved is like getting engaged – you’ve chosen each other, but nothing is official yet.

Until landlord and tenant say “I do” and sign the lease, there’s always the risk of a runaway bride situation. So, lock it down quickly – but read the prenup first.

And considering we had one week to make this thing official, it’s fair to say ours was an elopement.

Things we checked on the lease before signing

As tempting as it is to scroll straight to the signature page, there are a few things worth checking first:

• The rental amount and payment date: Including when and how much the rent can increase.
• The lease period and notice terms: Especially what happens if you need to leave early.
• The deposit: How much it is and the conditions attached to getting it back.
• What’s included in the rent: Water, electricity, parking, home-user charges, and any other monthly costs.
• Maintenance responsibilities: Who pays when something breaks? What do you cover?
• The inspection process: When the incoming inspection will happen, how existing damage will be recorded, and what we need to do to make sure we’re not held responsible for it later.
• Apartment and building rules: Parking, pets, alterations, guests, and any move-in or move-out restrictions.

Lease tip: If, like us, you aren’t fluent in legalese, send the lease to a trusted friend or family member who is to take a look at the fine print to make sure you’re not being swindled.

If you think there’s something missing, ask for a clause or amendment to be added. This is the time to speak now or forever hold your peace.

Thankfully, all was in order, and we could sign the lease and surety document.

The total upfront cost

Getting the apartment was exciting. Watching R52 303.64 leave our bank accounts before we’d even moved in? Slightly less so.

It’s important to factor in all of these payments when planning and saving for your first month. Depending on the deposit, with your first month’s rent, you’ll typically need 2–3 months of the rental price saved. Then put aside a little bit extra for application fees, admin fees, home user charges, or any other additional charges.

Each application is different, so if you want to be safe, before applying, ask the agent or landlord what the upfront cost will be to make sure it fits within your budget.

What I would tell someone trying to secure a Cape Town rental

After two rejected applications and one successful one, here’s what I’d tell anyone trying to lock down a Cape Town rental:

• Keep looking until the lease is signed: We carried on viewing apartments while waiting for approval. Until everything is official, don’t put all your eggs in one City Bowl basket.
• Have your paperwork ready: When you find the right place, you want to be able to apply immediately rather than spending two days hunting down bank statements.
• Explain anything unusual upfront: Multiple income streams, different bank accounts, or surety can make your application look more complicated than it actually is. Make it easy for the agent to understand.
• Negotiate: Our apartment went from R18 000 to R17 000, and we ultimately got it for R16 500. Asking can genuinely pay off.
• Know the full upfront cost before saying yes: Your deposit, rent, admin fees, and other charges can add up to several months’ worth of rent very quickly.
• Read the lease properly: Getting approved is exciting, but don’t let that excitement stop you from checking exactly what you’re agreeing to.
• Don’t stop at the listing photos: If possible, revisit the apartment, take photos, and measure everything before buying furniture. Future you trying to fit a couch through the front door will be grateful.

Everything we need to do before moving day

View the apartment one more time before moving day

Because we made the mistake of not taking photos and videos when we first viewed the place (over a month ago), we’ve kinda forgotten how it all fits together and how much space there is.

The very kind estate agent has allowed us to view the apartment one more time before moving day. This is mainly to make sure we don’t end up buying furniture that’s too big for the space.

Furnish the apartment (in one week)

Getting the apartment is one thing – actually having stuff to put in it is another. Thankfully, it’s a joint effort with my flatmate. We both have bits and bobs that we’re bringing with us. And then for big stuff, she’s some

Here’s everything we’re planning to have by the first night to avoid eating and sleeping on the floor:

Here are some of the best places to find second-hand furniture in Cape Town. Best be sure we'll be knocking on their doors.

Now we just need to make sure it all gets there on moving day.

Book movers

And that’s where these guys come in. I have less than a week to book movers. But I’m not worried – I’ve known from the beginning that I’ll be booking through Wise Move, so it will be quick and easy.

Get the keys

To ensure a quick and easy start to moving day, the estate agent has arranged for us to pick up the keys the evening before.

It’s time to make the wise move

After months of listings, viewings, rejected applications, and stove-less kitchens, we finally have an address.

Now we have less than a week to pack, collect the keys, and get everything into our new Vredehoek home. Thankfully, I’ll be booking Wise Move’s trusted Cape Town moving team to handle the heavy lifting.

Next up: moving day.

And yes, we have a stove.