Frequently Asked Questions

We offer three room tiers so you can choose by lifestyle, not guesswork. Category B is a compact room with a single bed — ideal if you plan to be out exploring Cape Town and mainly need your room for sleeping (single occupancy only; it cannot be shared by couples). Category A is a larger, more comfortable room with a double bed — a great fit if you will study, work from home, or simply want more space. Category A+ is our flagship: the largest rooms in our portfolio, each with their own private ensuite bathroom, for guests who want maximum comfort and privacy. Every tier includes the same house amenities, security, cleaning and support — the difference is room size, bed, and bathroom.

No, we supply full bedding and one towel.

Yes, we provide a washing machine and tumble dryer at all our properties.

Load shedding refers to South Africa’s scheduled rolling power cuts. The good news: load shedding is currently inactive in South Africa, so it is not something you need to plan around right now.

No. Load shedding is currently inactive, and even so, all of our properties are fitted with inverters and battery backup that keep essential lights and key plug points running. So whether or not load shedding returns, your stay stays comfortable and you can keep working, studying and charging your devices.

RAR Pricing 2026 (short-term, per day)

Category A+ $28 / Day
Category A $26 / Day
Category B $23 / Day
Room Deposit $250 (Refundable)
Lease / Cleaning Fee $100 (Once off)

Long-term rates (4 months or longer, per month)

Category A+ R10,350 / month
Category A R9,850 / month
Category B R9,350 / month
Deposit equivalent to one month’s rent. Once-off R1,500 lease/cleaning fee. Electricity R18/day billed with the rent. A 30-day move-out notice applies to long-term bookings.

All rent is to be paid in advance of your stay. Sharing a room is 25% additional (available on Category A and A+ only — Category B is single occupancy and cannot be shared by couples).

Want to estimate your total trip cost?

Electricity at all of our properties is billed at $1 per day for short term bookings and R18 per day for long-term bookings (billed with the rent)

The only exception is our 317 Lower Main Road house, whereby the electricity operates on a pre-paid system

Electricity vouchers can be purchased from your nearest grocery store (SPAR and most convenience stores sell electricity)

The 16 digit voucher number will need to be punched into into your meter to recharge

The cost of electricity is shared among the tenants at 317 Lower Main Road, and the tenants are responsible for agreeing on an equitable system to divide the cost.

• Check-in is during office hours Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm & Sat – Sun 9am – 4pm
• If you arrive after office hours you will need to make use of our after hours shuttle service which will also check you into the property. There is an additional cost for this service which will depend on your time of arrival. Please ask your booking agent to confirm this price for you.
• If you are a VACorps intern, your airport collection will be done by them and they will co-ordinate your check-in with us.

We believe Observatory (“Obs”) is safe, and we don’t shy away from the conversation. Obs is one of Cape Town’s most popular student neighbourhoods — right next to the universities, with an active Observatory Improvement District and full of cafes, shops and fellow internationals. Just as importantly, every one of our houses is secured with electric fencing, monitored alarm systems with emergency panic buttons, CCTV, and fire alarms with monitored response. Our team is close by and reachable on WhatsApp 8am–4pm, with an after-hours emergency line, and our office is open 7 days a week. As in any city, we also share simple street-smart tips when you arrive — so between the security hardware, our hands-on team and a bit of local know-how, you feel settled and safe from day one.

Our houses are in Observatory, which sits between the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), with easy access to both by public transport, Uber or a short commute. Tell us where you’ll be studying and we’ll recommend the most convenient house.

It’s simple: send us your arrival and departure dates and the property you’re interested in through our contact form or on WhatsApp. We’ll confirm availability and your exact price, then guide you through securing your room with your refundable deposit — all before you fly, so you arrive knowing exactly where you’re going.

Yes. Your housing deposit is fully refundable, returned after your stay subject to the room being left in good condition. The once-off lease/cleaning fee is refundable only if you cancel in time (30 or more days before your start date) and never take up your room; once your stay begins it is non-refundable. We’ll always be clear and upfront about deposits and fees before you book.

You’re never locked in. If you arrive and don’t like your housing, let us know by email within your first 7 days and you can either move to another available Rent-A-Room property or receive a refund of the unused balance of your stay, no questions, no penalty. After your first 7 days, the standard 30 days’ notice applies to any move, cancellation or refund.

Yes — couples can share a Category A (double bed) or Category A+ (large ensuite) room for an additional 25% on the daily or monthly rate. Please note that Category B is a single-bed room for single occupancy only and cannot be shared by couples.

Yes. If you’re a VACorps intern, your airport collection is already included in your fee — we’ll be there when you land. For everyone else, airport pickup is a flat R400. Just send us your flight details when you book and we’ll organise it for you.

Absolutely. We’re happy to provide the accommodation confirmation and supporting documentation you may need for your visa or study-abroad application. Many of our guests have relied on us for exactly this — just ask and we’ll sort it out.

All our houses come furnished and equipped with the essentials you need to settle in — including WiFi, a comfortable bed, a fully equipped kitchen, and regular cleaning with fresh linen. When you move in, you’re welcomed with starter essentials to make settling in stress-free.

Rent-A-Room was founded in 2004 — we’ve been welcoming international students and interns to Cape Town for over 20 years. That experience is exactly why hundreds of guests trust us to make their landing safe and easy.

Our minimum stay is 30 days, whether your booking is short-term or long-term. We also ask for 30 days’ notice for any move, cancellation or refund.

If you cancel 30 or more days before you arrive: your rent and deposit are fully refundable, and the once-off lease/cleaning fee is refunded too.

If you cancel less than 30 days before you arrive: your deposit is forfeited. For short-term bookings this is the $250 refundable deposit; for long-term bookings the deposit is equal to one month’s rent, so that is the amount forfeited.

VACorps interns: if you are waiting on a placement and VACorps is unable to place you, you receive a full refund.

Need to change your arrival or departure dates after booking? No problem and no penalty — just let us know in advance.

Our houses are shared, with a communal kitchen and bathrooms, while your bedroom is private and your own space. Some Category A+ rooms also have their own little kitchenette. Each house is home to roughly 7 to 10 guests, which is exactly the point — Rent-A-Room is built around community, so you arrive to a ready-made circle of students, interns and fellow travellers.

Included in your rent: WiFi and water are included, your room comes furnished with a comfortable bed, and there’s a fully equipped kitchen to share. Houses are cleaned at least twice a week. Fresh linen and a private-bathroom clean are available on request — just let us know and we’ll arrange a swap-out or extra clean for you.

To keep every house comfortable and community-friendly, we ask all guests to respect a few simple rules:

• No overnight guests without prior permission
• No smoking
• No parties
• No excessive noise
• No pets

These keep the shared spaces pleasant for everyone — most guests find they’re just common courtesy.

Let us know as soon as possible and we’ll arrange a replacement. There is a R250 fee for a new set of keys, which we’ll replace during office hours.

If you’re locked out after hours and we need to call out a locksmith, the locksmith charge is R950, payable directly to the locksmith.

Homes fitted with an ADT alarm system are monitored as a paid service. If the fire alarm sounds or an emergency panic button is pressed, ADT sends a patrol vehicle to check on the property.

If the activation turns out to be a false alarm, a call-out fee of R100 per incident applies and is shared by the household. In a genuine emergency, this service is there to keep you safe.

Staying connected is easy. A local Vodacom eSIM is simple to set up once you land, and VACorps students have SIM cards supplied for them. If you’d rather sort it before you fly, an international plan or a travel eSIM app works well — popular options include Airalo, Saily, Holafly, Nomad and Simly. And of course, all of our houses have WiFi included, so you’re online the moment you walk in.

Paying is straightforward. You can pay by international bank transfer, or simply by credit card using the secure link that comes with your invoice. We’ll confirm your exact amount and walk you through securing your room before you travel.