Just Property rebranded itself in 2016. Instead of just being seen as a specialist-rentals agency, the company wanted to be recognized as one that offers residential, commercial, and industrial property for rentals, as well as sales.
The Chief Executive Officer for Just Property, Paul Stevens, believes that their strong background in lettings is what’s going to give them an added advantage. Just Lettings was trusted by consumers, in addition to being an award-winning division of the company. It won the award for the Best Lettings Agency categories at the Arabia and Africa Performance Awards in Dubai in 2017.
The objective of the Africa & Arabia Property Awards is to recognize excellence in the property industry worldwide. This is the third consecutive year that the rentals or lettings divisions have walked away with the coveted award. In turn, the company has attributed their success to hard work.
The extras such as rates and levies that are added to home ownership make letting a popular option. Just Properties says that rental growth is up to just over 6 percent, and the average rental achieved across Just Property’s rental book countrywide is currently R6 550.
As expected, the Western Cape has the highest growth in rentals of almost 10 percent. Stevens believes the reason for the high rentals in the Western Cape is due to people moving there for work. People rent property instead of buying it because they don’t want to be rooted in a certain place. Rental markets in the Eastern Cape on Just Properties have also attributed this increase; for example, areas such as Port Elizabeth. Housing in the Eastern Cape is growing as well.
Over the last five years, freehold properties have risen to more than 22 percent. The headquarters of Just Property is based in the Eastern Cape, and the big economic investment in the province is believed to benefit the company.