Woman Speaks Out About Unfair Estate Agents in Cape Town: "Where Must I Get Such Money?"

• A frustrated single mother from Cape Town shared her struggles with finding affordable housing, criticising estate agents
• She explained that she’s been stuck in a run-down rental for over a year, with no support from her landlord to fix the issues
• Her video resonated with many South Africans who face similar housing difficulties, sparking an online conversation

South Africans related to a single mother’s emotional post about housing struggles in Cape Town, as she shed light on the rigid demands of estate agents and the difficulty of finding safe, affordable homes under the current system.

A TikTok user @jenny777_7 shared an emotional video on 26 July 2025, about the challenges she’s faced as a single mother trying to find a decent place to live in Cape Town. She spoke of her deep frustration with estate agents who make it almost impossible for the average person to qualify for housing by demanding that tenants earn three times the rent amount.

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She explained that she’s been living in a house she no longer wants to be in for more than a year. The property, she said, has serious maintenance issues that the landlord refuses to fix, yet she cannot move out because she doesn’t meet the income requirements for other places. For someone raising a child alone, the rental system feels unfair and stacked against people like her. She wrote:

"Greedy Estate Agents, no words can describe how angry, upset, frustrated and depressed I am. With the old government, it was easy to find a safe place to call home. Now it's all about the MONEY.. Estate Agents have lost their humanity, souls and Dignity."

Single mom struggles with Cape Town's high rent

Many South Africans watching the video agreed. Cape Town is already notorious for its high rental costs, and these strict vetting rules only add pressure to families already struggling to keep up. Jenny’s experience resonated with others who feel that estate agents prioritise money over people’s actual living conditions.

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Her post sparked a broader discussion about the rental market’s lack of flexibility and compassion. With landlords and agents setting rigid conditions, people in vulnerable financial situations find themselves trapped in homes they don’t want, and often, those homes are not even properly maintained. Jenny’s video drew attention to a system that needs serious reform if it’s going to work for everyone, not just the wealthy.

Mzansi reacted to the video

Angeliqueduplessi50 said:

"Why would you say the agent is greedy? It's not like they are receiving the monthly rental. It is standard practice when renting."

Melissa Roberts wrote:

"As an agent, when you are dealing with tenants who don’t pay rent for MONTHS and refuse to move, we are doing our due diligence by requiring that tenants earn three times the rental. It has become a necessity. Also, when you say old government, are you referring to the apartheid government? Shocking."

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Fancy Facs commented:

"That is correct. Income needs to be three times the rental. It is what it is. 🤷🏽‍♀️"

Donaven said:

"They are doing due diligence."

Mariomeyer69 wrote:

"If you buy a car, apply for a loan, open a clothing account, or apply to rent a property, you need to earn three times more than the credit you're applying for. It’s the regulations of the National Credit Act. If an agent lets you sign a lease and your income isn’t 3x, and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FICA) does an audit on the agency, which they randomly do, they will fine the agency over R1 million, and the agent will lose their license. The agents aren't greedy."

Zaza commented:

"I understand you're obviously speaking out of frustration, but agents have a certain protocol and due diligence to follow. Perhaps use this platform to reach out to landlords who might be able to assist you?"

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Gavin said:

"I own three properties, including the one I live in, and I do repairs when tenants ask. I'm currently renting out a separate entrance granny flat available 1st September privately."

Mona wrote:

"As a property owner, I must say I agree and don’t agree. Property agents want the first month’s rental as a placement commission, then on top of that, the tenant gets charged a fee per month—usually not more than R1000, depending on the property. But then you get the drama of non-paying tenants, and believe me, it’s hell on earth to get them to move! Thousands of rands in legal fees. Or they pay in the middle of the month. You win on the swings and lose on the roundabouts. I would suggest Just Property; I got the most joy from them. They also take into account your circumstances on both the tenant and owner’s side when proposing rentals. Good luck, I hope you come right."

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Check out the TikTok video below:

3 other Briefly News stories about Cape Town

• A Cape Town beauty entrepreneur shared a behind-the-scenes video of her hair care product business.
• An expensive apartment in Cape Town went viral after its outdated kitchen drew widespread criticism online.
• South Africans were not impressed by an expensive apartment located in Cape Town after watching a virtual tour.

Updated by Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News.

Source: Briefly News