Tenant Representation

The landlord has
a professional in
their corner.

You should too.

Every commercial landlord in South Africa has a broker whose sole job is to secure the best possible terms for the landlord. They know the market. They know the incentives. They know exactly what you don’t know.

When you negotiate directly, or use the same broker the landlord recommended, you are not negotiating on a level playing field. We exist to change that. Our tenant representation service puts an experienced, independent advocate in your corner for every lease transaction, ensuring your interests are protected from the first enquiry to the final signed lease.

What this service covers

The Imbalance We Correct

The information gap between
landlord and tenant is significant.
And expensive.

South Africa’s commercial property market is dominated by large, sophisticated landlords, property funds, listed REITs, and institutional investors who employ full-time teams of professional brokers, lawyers, and asset managers. Their sole objective is to lease space on the best possible terms for the landlord.

The average corporate tenant, by contrast, negotiates a commercial lease once every three to five years. They enter the process without live market data, without knowledge of what incentives landlords are currently offering, and without experience of the negotiating tactics the landlord’s team will use. The information asymmetry is significant and it costs tenants money on every lease they sign.

Tenant representation exists to correct that imbalance. We bring the same level of professional advocacy, market intelligence, and negotiating experience to the tenant’s side of the table — ensuring that you are never the least informed party in a commercial property negotiation.

The Conflict Most Tenants Miss

The broker who showed you
the building works for the landlord.

In the South African commercial property market, most tenants are advised, knowingly or unknowingly, by brokers whose fee is paid by the landlord. This is a fundamental conflict of interest that most businesses never question.

The Landlord's Broker

Paid by the landlord. Accountable to the landlord.

The traditional commercial property broker is engaged by, and paid a commission by, the building owner. Their commercial interest is in completing a deal in that building, not in finding you the best possible terms across all available options.

Your Tenant Representative

Paid by the tenant. Accountable to the tenant. Acts on the tenants best interests

We are engaged by and paid directly by you the occupier. Our commercial interest is aligned entirely with yours: securing the best possible terms for your business across every available option in the market.

What We Negotiate

Every term. Every clause.
Every rand.

Most tenants focus on headline rental. We negotiate every dimension of the lease because the terms beyond the headline rate often represent the largest financial exposure.

01

Rental Rate

Typically 12–22% below asking.
 

The headline rental rate is benchmarked against every comparable space currently available in your target node — and against recent concluded transactions. We use this data to establish the true market rate and negotiate to it.

How Tenant Representation Works

From brief to keys.
We manage every step.

Our tenant representation process is comprehensive, covering strategy, market search, negotiation, legal coordination, and handover. You focus on your business. We handle the property.

Legal Review & Lease Execution

Once commercial terms are agreed, we coordinate the legal review process — working alongside your attorneys to ensure the negotiated terms are accurately reflected in the lease agreement, and that any legally unfavourable provisions are identified and addressed before execution. We review the final draft against the heads of agreement and flag any material deviations for resolution before you sign.

Brief & Requirements Analysis

Every engagement begins with a structured brief. We document your space requirements — size, specification, location priorities, budget parameters, timing, headcount projections, and any operational constraints. We also review your current lease position, including any make-good obligations or notice requirements that may affect your timeline. This brief drives every subsequent decision in the process.

Market Search & Longlist

We conduct a comprehensive search of all available space in your target nodes — both on and off market. We do not limit our search to a single building or a single landlord's portfolio. We approach every relevant landlord and agent in the market, including direct approaches to buildings that may have unlisted vacancy or upcoming availability. The result is a longlist of all viable options, objectively assessed against your brief.

Shortlist, Inspections & Evaluation

We shortlist the most suitable options against your brief and arrange coordinated building inspections. We prepare a structured evaluation matrix — comparing every shortlisted option across rental rate, building grade, specification, location, parking, flexibility provisions, and total cost of occupancy. We present this comparison to your leadership team with a clear recommendation on which options to pursue to the negotiation stage.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions.

  1. What is tenant representation?
    Tenant representation is the practice of engaging an independent advisor to act exclusively on your behalf as a commercial occupier, managing the full process of searching, evaluating, and negotiating space. Unlike a letting agent or landlord’s broker, a tenant representative has no commercial relationship with any landlord, is paid by you, and is accountable solely to delivering the best possible outcome for your business.
  2. Why do I need a tenant representative if I can deal directly with the landlord?
    The landlord’s leasing team negotiates commercial leases every day. Most corporate tenants negotiate a lease once every three to five years. The information asymmetry in market knowledge, current incentive benchmarks, and negotiating tactics  is substantial. A tenant representative levels that playing field. In most cases, the improved terms we secure far exceed what the tenant could have achieved independently, and the advisory fee is a fraction of the value created.
  3. How is tenant representation different from using a commercial property broker?
    A commercial property broker typically represents the landlord, or both parties simultaneously, and is paid a commission by the landlord when a deal is concluded. This creates a fundamental conflict of interest: their fee depends on the transaction completing, not on you securing the best possible terms. A tenant representative is paid by you, works exclusively for you, and has no financial incentive to push you toward any particular building or to close a deal that does not serve your interests.
  4. What does tenant representation cost?
    Our fees are structured based on the size and complexity of the lease transaction and agreed upfront before we commence any work. In most cases, the value of the improved terms we negotiate, reduced rental, enhanced TIA, extended rent-free periods, and better lease flexibility, significantly exceeds the advisory fee, often by a multiple of five to ten times over the lease term. We are happy to provide a transparent fee proposal after an initial no-obligation consultation.
  5. Do you cover tenant representation across all of South Africa?
    Yes. We provide tenant representation services across all of South Africa’s major commercial nodes, including Johannesburg, Sandton, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, and secondary markets across the country. Our market intelligence and transactional experience is current across each of these markets, and for national multi-site assignments we assign a lead advisor with the support of advisors who have specific node-level expertise.
  6. How early should I engage a tenant representative?
    For lease renewals and renegotiations, ideally 18 to 24 months before your lease expiry date — this gives us maximum leverage and enough time to run a genuine market process if relocation becomes the preferred option. For new space requirements, we recommend engaging us as soon as the requirement is confirmed. The earlier we are involved, the more value we can create. That said, if you have an urgent requirement or a lease expiry approaching sooner than expected, contact us immediately — we can work to any timeline.

Get Started

Ready to make your
next property decision
with confidence?

Whether your lease is expiring in 6 months or 3 years, the best time to engage a CRE advisor is earlier than you think. Let’s start with a no-obligation strategy call.

Prefer to call?

+27 61 484 5578

Long Street
City Center, Cape Town
South Africa

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Where the analysis leads next.

Lease Negotiation & Renewal

We negotiate directly with your landlord on your behalf, securing improved rental rates, enhanced TIA, extended rent-free periods, and more favourable escalation and option clause

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Tenant Representation Services

We act exclusively in your interest to identify, evaluate, and negotiate the best available premises in your target market, managing the full transaction from brief to handover.

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Tenant Representation

Tenant and landlord representation are specialized services provided by corporate real estate professionals to assist both property owners (landlords) and businesses or individuals seeking space (tenants) in the commercial real estate sector. These services involve advocacy, negotiation, and strategic advisory to ensure favorable outcomes for the party being represented.

Any corporate occupier who deserves better terms than they would get alone.

Growing Businesses

Businesses expanding into larger premises for the first time — where the lease commitment is significant, the stakes are high, and independent representation ensures you don’t overpay for the space you need to grow into. We represent corporate occupiers across all sectors and sizes — from single-office businesses securing their first significant lease, to multinational corporations managing complex multi-site South African portfolios. Tenant representation focuses on advocating for the tenant’s best interests when they are looking for commercial space to lease or rent. Whether it’s office, retail, or industrial space, tenant representatives help businesses navigate the complex leasing process and ensure they secure the right space under optimal terms. Browse our assortment of offices to rent in century City

Corporate Relocations

Established businesses relocating their head office or regional operations — where a comprehensive market search, structured evaluation, and rigorous negotiation process is essential to securing the right space on the right terms. Our market intelligence and transactional experience covers all of South Africa’s primary commercial property markets — giving you consistent, benchmarked representation wherever your business operates. See how we can assist with your office installation

Multi-Site Occupiers

Businesses with commercial property across multiple South African nodes — who require a consistent, coordinated approach to tenant representation that ensures every site is negotiated with the same rigour and market intelligence.

Learn more about our Stay versus Go Report

International Entrants

International businesses entering the South African market — who need a trusted, independent advisor with deep local market knowledge to identify suitable space, navigate local lease conventions, and negotiate with confidence in an unfamiliar market.

Johannesburg

Sandton · Rosebank · Bryanston · Midrand · Parktown – South Africa’s largest commercial property market — home to the majority of the country’s major corporate occupiers, financial institutions, and professional services firms. Deep transactional experience across all major Johannesburg nodes.
 

Cape Town

CBD · Claremont · Century City · Bellville · Woodstock – A rapidly evolving commercial market with strong demand from the technology sector, financial services, and professional firms. Comprehensive coverage of the Cape Town CBD and all major suburban nodes across the Cape Peninsula.

Pretoria

Menlyn · Hatfield · Brooklyn · Centurion · Lynnwood – A significant commercial market serving government-adjacent businesses, professional services, and corporate occupiers with operations in the administrative capital. Strong coverage across Pretoria’s established and emerging commercial nodes.

Key Functions of Tenant Representation:

  1. Needs Assessment: Tenant representatives begin by understanding the specific needs of the tenant, including location preferences, space requirements, budget constraints, and future growth plans. This ensures that the selected property aligns with the tenant’s business objectives.

  2. Market Research: Tenant representatives perform thorough market analysis, identifying available properties that meet the tenant’s criteria. They provide insight into market trends, rental rates, and competitive opportunities.

  3. Property Tours: After narrowing down options, tenant representatives arrange property tours, allowing the tenant to evaluate each location’s suitability in terms of layout, amenities, accessibility, and overall environment.

  4. Negotiation of Lease Terms: One of the most critical aspects of tenant representation is lease negotiation. The representative advocates for favorable lease terms, including rental rates, lease length, renewal options, and flexibility for expansion or downsizing. They also negotiate aspects like tenant improvement allowances, maintenance responsibilities, and rent escalation clauses.

  5. Due Diligence: Tenant representatives conduct due diligence on the selected properties, ensuring that all legal, financial, and regulatory requirements are met before a lease is signed. This includes verifying zoning, building codes, and the condition of the property.

  6. Lease Management: Beyond the initial lease agreement, tenant representatives may offer ongoing support in managing the lease, including monitoring key dates such as renewal or termination periods and ensuring compliance with the lease terms.

Benefits of Tenant Representation:

  • Access to Expertise: Tenant representatives offer in-depth market knowledge and experience, which helps tenants make informed decisions.
  • Time and Cost Savings: By handling negotiations and due diligence, tenant representatives save businesses time and help them secure better financial terms.
  • Minimized Risk: They ensure that tenants avoid unfavorable lease terms, hidden costs, or obligations that could impact their business operations.

Whether you’re looking to expand your footprint, optimize your current space, or navigate complex lease negotiations, we have the knowledge and experience to help you achieve your goals.

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