Rental Deposit Refund Calculator — South Africa

Calculate the correct deposit refund including interest earned and deductions under the Rental Housing Act. For both landlords and tenants.

🕐 Last Updated: May 2026  ·  Rental Housing Act 50 of 1999  ·  14-day refund period
📋 RENTAL HOUSING ACT — KEY DEPOSIT RULES
✓ Deposit must be kept in interest-bearing account
✓ Interest belongs to the tenant
✓ Refund within 14 days of lease end (no damages) or cost determination
✓ Deductions only for damages beyond fair wear and tear
✓ Landlord must provide receipts/invoices for all deductions
✓ Disputes go to Rental Housing Tribunal (free)
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Deposit Refund Calculator — Rental Housing Act

Deposit + interest earned − agreed deductions = refund due

① Deposit & Lease Details
As stated in the lease agreement
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For reference — RHA allows maximum 2 months deposit
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Date deposit was paid and invested
Date tenant vacated / lease terminated
② Interest Rate
Rate earned on the investment account. Check your bank statement. Typical SA savings: prime minus 3–4% ≈ 6–7% (2026). If unknown, use 6.5%.
RHA requirement: The landlord must invest the deposit in an interest-bearing account at a financial institution. The interest accrues to the tenant's benefit — the landlord may not benefit from the interest. If no interest was paid, the tenant can claim it via the Rental Housing Tribunal.
③ Deductions (if any)
Landlords: Deductions must be for damages beyond fair wear and tear only. Normal wear, ageing paint, and general cleaning are not deductible. All deductions must be supported by itemised quotes or invoices.
Cost to repair damages beyond fair wear and tear (supported by invoices)
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Confirmed unpaid rent or utility amounts at lease end
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Any other amounts agreed in writing between landlord and tenant
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🏛️ Rental Housing Tribunal — Free Dispute Resolution

If you have a dispute about a deposit refund, the Rental Housing Tribunal provides free dispute resolution in all provinces. Decisions of the Tribunal have the same force as a court order. Contact your provincial tribunal:

Gauteng: 0800 488 488
Western Cape: 021 483 5020
KwaZulu-Natal: 031 336 5300
Eastern Cape: 040 609 3200
All provinces: housing@gov.za

How to Use This Calculator

Enter the original deposit amount and the lease start and end dates. The calculator determines the days the deposit was held and calculates interest using simple interest. The interest rate should match the rate your bank paid on the investment account — check the account statement.

Enter any deductions only for damages beyond fair wear and tear, supported by invoices. The calculator shows the correct refund amount and the 14-day deadline by which it must be paid. If no exit inspection was conducted, note that the landlord may not be entitled to deduct for damages.

Generate a Compliant Rental Agreement

Use the Rental Agreement Generator to create a legally compliant SA lease with correct deposit clauses under the Rental Housing Act.

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How the Rental Housing Act Governs Deposits in South Africa

The Rental Housing Act 50 of 1999 (RHA) is the primary legislation governing residential rental deposits in South Africa. Section 5(3) of the Act requires landlords to invest deposits in interest-bearing accounts, with the interest accruing to the tenant's benefit. This is a non-negotiable statutory requirement — lease agreements that purport to allow the landlord to retain interest are unenforceable.

The deposit refund process is governed by the inspection regime in Section 5(4) and (5). The landlord must offer the tenant a joint inspection at move-in and move-out. If a joint exit inspection is conducted and damages are found, the landlord may deduct the repair cost from the deposit. If no exit inspection is conducted, the landlord cannot make deductions for damages — the full deposit plus interest must be returned.

Fair Wear and Tear vs Damage — The Critical Distinction

The most common dispute in SA rental deposit refunds is the boundary between fair wear and tear (not deductible) and actual damage (deductible). Fair wear and tear is the normal deterioration that occurs from reasonable use of the property over time — scuff marks on walls, minor carpet wear, faded paint, small nail holes from picture hooks. These are the landlord's cost of doing business and cannot be recovered from the deposit.

Actual damage that can be deducted includes: holes in walls, broken doors or windows, stained carpets, burns, deliberate modifications, broken fixtures, and damage caused by negligence. The landlord must quantify the damage with quotes or invoices from contractors. Betterment (improving the property beyond its original condition) is not recoverable from the deposit — if a carpet that was 8 years old needs replacing, the landlord can only recover the depreciated value, not the full replacement cost.

The 14-Day Refund Rule — and What Happens When It's Missed

The RHA prescribes that if no damages are found (or if no exit inspection is conducted), the landlord must refund the full deposit plus interest within 14 days of the lease terminating. If damages are found, the landlord must determine the repair cost and refund the balance within 14 days of the cost being established.

Failure to refund within the prescribed period constitutes a breach of the Act. Tenants have several remedies: approaching the Rental Housing Tribunal (free, decisions enforceable like court orders), sending a formal letter of demand, or issuing summons in the Small Claims Court for amounts up to R20,000. The Tribunal is the recommended first step — it is free, relatively quick, and its decisions have full legal force.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about rental deposit refunds in South Africa

▸ How is rental deposit interest calculated in South Africa?

The landlord must invest the deposit in an interest-bearing account. The interest rate is whatever the bank pays on the account. The total refund = original deposit + all interest earned − agreed deductions. The landlord cannot benefit from the interest — it belongs to the tenant.

▸ How long does a landlord have to refund a deposit?

14 days from lease end if no damages, or 14 days from the repair cost being determined. Failure to refund within this period is a breach of the Rental Housing Act and can be reported to the Rental Housing Tribunal.

▸ Can a landlord deduct from a rental deposit?

Yes — but only for damages beyond fair wear and tear, and outstanding rent or utilities. Normal wear, faded paint, minor scuffs and general cleaning are not deductible. All deductions must be supported by itemised quotes or invoices.

▸ What is the Rental Housing Tribunal?

A free dispute resolution body available in all provinces under the Rental Housing Act. Adjudicates disputes about deposit refunds, lease terms, maintenance, harassment and unlawful termination. Decisions have the same force as a court order. Free for both parties to approach.

▸ Does a landlord have to pay interest on a rental deposit?

Yes — the RHA requires the deposit to be kept in an interest-bearing account. The interest belongs to the tenant and must be paid at the end of the lease. If no interest was paid, the tenant can claim it from the Rental Housing Tribunal.

▸ What happens if a landlord does not refund the deposit?

Options: (1) Approach the Rental Housing Tribunal — free, enforceable; (2) Send a letter of demand with 7 days to pay; (3) Small Claims Court for amounts up to R20,000 at minimal cost. The Tribunal is the recommended first step and handles most straightforward cases efficiently.

📖 Related Tools & Reading

→ Rental Agreement Generator — RHA-Compliant SA Lease → Rental Escalation Calculator — Annual Increase Planning → Rental Housing Act Guide — Full SA Landlord & Tenant Guide → Rental Yield Calculator — Is Your Property a Good Investment?