How much does an eviction cost in South Africa? Updated for 2026
- Property Protect
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Since the promulgation of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE Act) 19 of 1998, a landlord cannot simply evict a tenant with a letter or threat. The Act requires the landlord to obtain a court order directing the Sheriff of the Court to evict the stubborn tenant, with the help of the SAPS if necessary.
While all of that sounds fair in theory, when combined with the practical reality in our courts - the delays and layers of bureaucracy which have to be waded through, and waiting months for a court date, multiple services of documents and application hearings - all add up to significant costs.
The total cost of an eviction can vary significantly depending on the circumstances. As a best case, an eviction application costs around R50,000 - provided only one hearing is needed, and the tenant doesn't secure any postponements. Of that, at least R10,000 is now taken up by sheriffs' costs for service of the various letters and application documents which are now required.
Bad tenants often employ every tactic they can think of to secure a postponement. They know that if they succeed, they get to stay in your property for another month. It is not unheard of for a landlord to spend over R1 million to get a tenant out.
This means that eviction cases often cost more than R50,000. Very few property investors are prepared for those costs. Meanwhile, the bad tenant is usually full of promises - to pay next month, to catch up, etc. As a result, many investors tend to adopt a "wait and hope" approach, hoping that the bad tenant fulfils their promise to pay by the end of the month.
But our statistics show that most landlords make enquiries about our service around the 2nd - 3rd of the month. In other words, the landlord waits another month, is disappointed again, and eventually accepts that they need help - but to make matters worse, they've lost another month's rent. Property Protect aims to help you evict your bad tenant without high legal costs. This makes the decision an easy one, and helps you cut your losses.
Don't be tempted to take the law into your own hands
Some landlords resort to tactics like changing the locks, suspending utilities, or having other parties move into the property to intimidate the tenant into moving out. All of these are classified as criminal offences in terms of the PIE Act, and can result in both a fine and imprisonment of up to two years. Don't be tempted to take the law into your own hands - all it takes is one self-righteous tenant with a pro bono attorney behind them to press criminal charges. With Property Protect®, there's no need to take any of these types of risks anymore.
Do you have a problem with a difficult tenant? Get our free guide to handling tenants and evictions here.
The above information is for illustrative purposes only and does not take into account your specific circumstances. It therefore does not constitute legal advice. Please contact us for comprehensive advice to address your circumstances. Under no circumstances should any person use the above information in an attempt to circumvent the provisions of legislation or contract, or to cause damage to any other person. Always ensure you and your company are in compliance with the law in all dealings. This information is accurate as of the date of publication. Property Protect is not insurance and does not pay out any claim amount. It is a Value-Added Service (VAS) provided at a discount, directly from our law firm. © 2025 Maybery Attorneys Inc. All rights reserved.
