How I Lived Rent-Free in Johannesburg for Two Years by Renting Out a Flat

How I Lived Rent-Free in Johannesburg for Two Years by Renting Out a Flat

Johannesburg is a vibrant and bustling city, but one thing that’s certainly not cheap is rent. However, for two years, I managed to live rent-free in Johannesburg by thinking outside the box and leveraging a clever strategy. Here’s how I did it, and how you could potentially do something similar.

Finding the Perfect Flat

I started by looking for an affordable two-bedroom apartment in Johannesburg. After some searching, I found one that cost R7,500 a month. My goal was to rent it out, but also ensure that I didn’t have to pay rent myself.

Renting Out the Bedrooms

The flat had two decent-sized bedrooms. I decided to rent them out individually. The larger bedroom was ideal for someone willing to pay a bit more, so I rented it out for R3,800 per month. The smaller bedroom went for R3,500 per month. With these two tenants, I was able to cover the R7,500 rent.

• Large Bedroom: R3,800
• Small Bedroom: R3,500
• Total Income: R7,300

At this point, I was only R200 short of covering the full rent, which was a manageable gap. But I wanted to go a step further and eliminate my rental expense entirely.

Turning the Lounge Into a Bedroom

The flat had a sizable lounge area, which I decided to repurpose. I bought a large wardrobe and used it to create a partition, effectively subdividing the lounge. This made it into a cozy private space that became my bedroom.

By living in the lounge, I didn’t need to worry about finding additional tenants or paying rent for another room. The R7,300 I was receiving from my tenants was enough to cover the rent for the entire flat, meaning I was living rent-free!

Why This Worked

The key to making this work was maximizing the space and finding the right tenants. Johannesburg, like many cities, has a demand for affordable living, and I was able to provide a solution that worked for both me and my tenants. Both tenants had their own rooms and paid rent that was competitive for the area. Meanwhile, I had a comfortable living space without the financial burden of paying rent.

Challenges and Considerations

Living rent-free wasn’t without its challenges. Here are some things I had to consider:

• Tenant Relationships: Since I was living in the flat with my tenants, maintaining a friendly but professional relationship was important. Clear boundaries and mutual respect made it easier to cohabitate.
• Privacy: The lounge-turned-bedroom wasn’t as private as a standard room. However, it worked for me because I didn’t mind the space as long as it was functional.
• Subletting: Make sure to check with your landlord and lease agreement about subletting. In my case, I was upfront with the landlord and got permission to sublet the rooms, ensuring everything was above board.

Conclusion

Living rent-free in Johannesburg for two years was a game-changer for me financially. By strategically renting out the rooms in my flat and turning the lounge into a livable space, I was able to cover the full rental amount without paying a cent out of my pocket.

This approach can be a viable option for anyone looking to reduce their living expenses, provided you’re creative and willing to share your space. It allowed me to save more money, focus on other financial goals, and enjoy life in the city without the stress of rent hanging over my head.