The South African multifamily residential rental sector entered 2025 on a strong footing with data from the South African Multifamily Residential Rental Association (SAMRRA) highlighting a positive weighted average occupancy rate of 95.8% during the first two months.

Based on a representative cross-section of the association’s members, who collectively manage more than 75 000 residential units valued at over R40 billion, the data points to tenant stability across various portfolios with SAMRRA members consistently achieving bad debts of less than 1% of what was billed.

“These figures reinforce the fundamental strengths of purpose-built, professionally managed rental housing in South Africa,” says Myles Kritzinger, CEO of SAMRRA. “Consistently high occupancy and quality income streams are more than a function of demand but also reflect skilled management and developments that resonate with appealing multifamily living.”

SAMRRA’s membership base includes institutional landlords who own and manage large scale multifamily residential rental properties. The sector’s operational performance in early 2025 suggests a sustained demand for well-located, professionally managed rental accommodation like housing estates and apartment buildings, particularly in a market where affordability, lifestyle flexibility and reliability of services are increasingly valued by tenants.

In fact, several SAMRRA members have reported record Q1 2025 letting activity, indicating robust and unmet demand in this sector.

“The strong start to the year is encouraging not only for our members but for investors and stakeholders across the value chain. It continues to demonstrate that multifamily rental assets are both resilient and investable, even as the broader macroeconomic environment remains complex,” he concludes.

SAMRRA is the official sponsor of the Multifamily category for this year’s Residential Investment and Development Summit Awards taking place on the 10^th of July 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre.