Frequently Asked Questions

Lease-IQ is an independent lease advisory service based in Cape Town. We review residential and commercial lease agreements for tenants who want to understand what they are agreeing to, before they sign or at any point during their tenancy, and provide a clear written report in plain language.

No. Lease-IQ is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal representation. We provide professional lease advisory — an independent, informed analysis of your agreement with a practical written output you can act on. Where a matter requires a qualified attorney, we will tell you that clearly.

We work with Cape Town residents renting homes and independently owned businesses leasing commercial or retail space. Our services are built for tenants who need clear, affordable guidance on what their lease actually means and who do not have ready access to property professionals or legal advisors.

We review all residential lease types, fixed-term, month-to-month, sectional title, complex, and student accommodation agreements. On the commercial side, we review office, industrial, and retail leases. There are no exclusions based on lease type or property category.

Yes. A review is useful at any stage of a tenancy, not only before signing. If you have questions about your current obligations, are dealing with a dispute, or are approaching a renewal or cancellation, a review gives you a clear documented understanding of your position.

We cover your obligations as a tenant, maintenance and repair responsibilities, deposit conditions, renewal and cancellation terms, and any clauses that carry risk or that are written in a way that obscures their practical effect. Every review covers the full lease document including all schedules and

Both cover your lease in full. The Standard Review gives you a clear written summary of your obligations, costs, and areas of concern at R650. The Full Review and Report at R1,950 goes further, it includes specific recommendations, identifies where you may have grounds to negotiate or challenge specific terms, and provides more detailed guidance on clauses that warrant closer attention.

A review can clarify your position by identifying what your lease says about deductions, what constitutes fair wear and tear, and whether a landlord's claimed deductions are consistent with the agreement you signed. Where a dispute has escalated to the point of requiring formal proceedings through the Rental Housing Tribunal, we will advise you on the appropriate next step.

It depends entirely on what your lease says. Maintenance responsibility varies significantly between residential leases and is one of the most common sources of tenant disputes. A lease review will tell you exactly what your agreement requires of you and whether what your landlord is claiming is consistent with what you signed.

We cover the full financial and operational structure of your lease — base rental, escalation mechanics, operating cost recoveries, rates, utilities, special levies, maintenance and repair obligations, fitout and reinstatement requirements, and renewal and cancellation provisions. We also flag any clauses that impose unusual obligations or carry risk that is not obvious from the headline rental figure.

In a gross lease, the rental you pay includes the landlord's recovery of operating costs, rates, insurance, building maintenance, and management fees. In a net lease, those costs are charged to the tenant separately and in addition to the base rental. The distinction has a significant impact on your actual monthly liability and is not always made clear when a space is marketed or presented for letting.

Yes. Renewal is one of the most valuable moments to get independent advice on a commercial lease. Landlords frequently revise terms at renewal — operating cost structures, escalation rates, and maintenance provisions can all change. A Full Review and Report gives you a documented analysis of the proposed terms and a clear basis for any negotiation before you commit to another lease period.

Reinstatement is the obligation to return leased premises to their original condition at the end of the lease. If you have carried out any fitout work, installed equipment, or made modifications to the space, reinstatement can represent a significant cost at lease end. It is one of the most commonly overlooked obligations at the start of a commercial lease and one of the most expensive to address when the lease expires.

You book a short consultation call at no charge. We discuss your lease and your situation and confirm that our service aligns with your needs. Once both parties are happy to proceed, you submit your lease digitally and we carry out the review. You receive your PDF report within 7 business days of submission.

Pricing is fixed across all service tiers. Residential Standard Review: R650. Residential Full Review and Report: R1,950. Commercial Standard Review: R1,250. Commercial Full Review and Report: R2,950. All pricing is confirmed before you proceed, there are no additional charges.