Top Property Management Companies in South Africa

South Africa’s property sector is a rich and vibrant industry with various parties playing a critical role in providing services and also being a part of robust business engagements, which take place on a daily basis.

The key players of the property industry can be categorised into financers, investors, facilitators, occupiers and developers, all of which contribute to transactions relating to land, residential properties, commercial properties, industrial property and developments.

The entire property value chain cannot be complete without the participation and contribution of property management companies. Property management companies are generally tasked with the responsibility of managing real estate.

What are the key responsibilities of property management companies?

Marketing and leasing

A property management company is responsible for marketing a property. These management companies, through many years of experience, have an in-depth understanding of which property marketing avenues and platforms work best. A management company also specialises in drafting lease agreements for both residential and commercial properties and resolving any arising lease-related matters.

Rent collection

A property management company provides a financial role in collecting rent on behalf of property owners. They solely manage property income and expenses and also look into insurance costs and claims where the need arises. Rent defaults are also handled by property management companies.

Maintenance

A property management company has a responsibility to ensure that a property is well maintained before, during and after occupation. This means they conduct scheduled inspections before the occupation, during and after a tenant has vacated to ensure the property is in a good stare and maintenance is instituted where there is a need. You can count on a management company to handle complaints, repair and maintenance requests, etc.

Which are the top property management companies in South Africa?

Jawitz Properties

Jawitz Properties is a renowned property industry leader which was established out of a personal encounter by then 34 years old Eskel Jawitz. His first-hand unpleasant experience with estate agents opened his eyes to how lucrative the industry is but also how much difference it can make to have property managers who understand real life as well as the dreams and hopes of clients. Eskel Jawitz went on to establish this property business empire in the 60s.Today, Jawitz boasts of a global network of 600 premier real estate firms, with 5,000 offices and 150,000 consultants in more than 30 countries around the world. With Jawitz, your property dreams are turned into reality through real support and expert advice.

RealNet

RealNet was established in the nation’s capital Pretoria in 1996 with its first franchise being launched in 2001. Its business footprint stretches across the four corners of the country with its service and product offering being residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural sales, sales in property developments, property letting and property management.

Seeff

Seeff is a distinctive property management company which has been developed around strong family and business values of excellence and integrity with a real passion to assist ordinary and established people with unlocking the doors to their property journeys. From very humble beginnings in 1964 with excellent amounts of knowledge and experience gained over the years, Seeff now has an enviable client and business portfolio of approximately 100 000 active buyers, has established 200 branches and has a staff compliment of 1200 agents within South Africa and in countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Eswatini and Mauritius.

RE/MAX of Southern Africa

RE/MAX of Southern Africa is regarded as a pioneering property business enterprise which still holds the record of being the first country franchise to be sold outside of North America. Since its establishment in 1994, this towering property business now has 2450 agents dotted in 10 countries in Southern Africa and has gone on to establish 175 offices. In its strategic expansion efforts, RE/MAX allowed Z Capital to buy a 45% ownership stake. Some of the accolades earned over the years include being voted as the top RE/MAX region in the world for 2012 at the group’s Las Vegas convention in March 2013.

Pam Golding International Property Group

Pam Golding Properties is a property household name in South Africa and beyond. Established in 1976 by luminary businesswoman Pam Golding, Pam Golding Properties has over the years broken new grounds and established new business frontiers with 300 branches and offices in most Southern African countries, including Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Mozambique.

Pam Golding Properties has over the years diversified its business and now assist clients with property sales and/or establishing residency in far flung countries such as the USA, Portugal, UK, Mauritius, Seychelles, Malta, Cyprus, Grenada, Spain and Uganda. The group also forms part of a strategic alliance with one of the world’s largest property groups , Savills plc, and has access to its prestigious network of over 600 offices worldwide.

The Pam Golding Property group’s subsidiary operating companies include Pam Golding Properties, Pam Golding Africa, Pam Golding Projects and International, Pam Golding Hospitality, Pam Golding Property Management Services and Pam Golding Mortgage Origination. While the company suffered a major loss through the death of founder and Life President Pam Golding in 2018, the business is in the capable hands of CE Andrew Golding, her son, who has been at the helm for more than 25 years – since 1996 .

Rawson

Rawson made its entrance in the South African property industry in 1978.Rawson Properties is named after Bill Rawson who is a highly stemmed property industry personality. The owner followed extensive market research which pointed to a growing need for secure, affordable and low maintenance accommodation in unique geographical locations such as Western Cape, parts of Gauteng, and Durban North. Today, Rawson Developers has over 200 franchises,1000 agents and is credited with developing over 2500 homes and about 50 diverse property developments. Rawson’s general product and service offering includes sales and rentals, letting, bond origination and auctions.

Chas Everitt

Since inception in 1980, Chas Everitt has developed its business around a burning passion to provide property buyers and sellers as well as tenants unrivalled service and a competitive edge. Drawing its dynamic character from founders Charles and Tilla Everitt, Chas Everitt is a reputable property management company with a fast-growing luxury portfolio division which has sold about R284 million in luxury property in upmarket Johannesburg neighbourhoods such as Hyde Park, Sandhurst, Melrose, and other sought-after suburbs in Johannesburg alone. Chas Everitt has also become a reliable service provider for those relocating to different parts of the country and beyond through established business partnerships. Chas Everitt was in 2016 recognised as the most innovative brokerage in the world.

Broll Property Group

There are very few property management companies which can boast of having a truly Pan African business footprint which Broll Property group has. Broll was established in 1975 but now has business presence in Cameroon, Ghana, Indian Ocean Islands, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, and more. Its vast property database serves South African property customers and beyond. You can count on Broll Property Group for auctions and sales, facilities management, industrial, investment and office broking, occupier services, property management, retail leasing and projects, research, shopping centre management, valuation and advisory services.

Firzt Realty Company

For about three decades since establishment, Firzt Realty Company has been associated with in-depth property management knowledge and above average determination to serve its customers and innovatively introduce new ways of doing business. Through the pioneering leadership of its CEO and founder Denese Zaslansky, this property business is now a reliable provider of specialised services for residential and commercial properties. These services cover selling, leasing, auctions, etc. Firzt has business operations in greater Johannesburg, Midrand and Mpumalanga province.

While the list of property management companies above is not conclusive, it does provide a general picture of the top property management companies in this fast changing and growing sector of the economy.