How rental agents can help defeat home hijackers

Residences are at risk of being taken over by criminals. How can rental agents work with homeowners to protect their vacant properties from becoming squats?

Building hijacking isn’t new in itself, but the criminals behind it have traditionally focused on commercial areas in city centres. Now, law enforcement officials and politicians are warning that vacant homes in residential neighbourhoods are being targeted by gangs who rent them out, often to undocumented migrants who can’t secure housing in the legitimate residential rental sector.

According to Grandi Theunissen, the Tshwane Member of Mayoral Committee for community safety, hijackers will often target properties whose owners live in another province or overseas, as well as properties where the owners have passed away. As well as physically taking over the property, they may even try to secure title deeds, with some success. One group in Pretoria has reportedly been working with insiders at the Deeds Office to steal ownership of buildings.

The property sector can help

As criminals tend to target empty homes, letting the property out can protect it from hijackers while also providing rental income for the homeowner. Rental agents who want to work with out-of-province or overseas investors can make this part of their sales pitch.

As part of their management service, a local rental agent can also keep an eye on the property to make sure that it is in good condition and that no unauthorised occupants are living in it.

Homeowners who decide to go this route should look for a reputable rental agency that is registered with the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority and holds a valid Fidelity Fund Certificate. Overseas investors in particular will also want to know their agent has a robust system for making international payments, quickly and securely.