Social Housing Regulatory Authority
Social Housing: Subsidised Rental in the Gap
Why social housing is different
Social housing is not an RDP house and it is not a FLISP-subsidised purchase. It is regulated rental housing built by non-profit and public-benefit developers called Social Housing Institutions (SHIs), backed by a capital subsidy from government. Units sit inside declared urban restructuring zones — city precincts that government wants to densify — and rent is set on a sliding scale so what you pay is directly tied to what you earn.
Sliding-scale rent, worked
These are the illustrative monthly rents for a one-bedroom unit at a typical Johannesburg or Cape Town SHI in 2026. Two- and three-bedroom units are proportionally higher.
| Monthly household income | Illustrative rent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| R1,850 – R5,500 | R900 – R1,300 | Primary target band. Deepest subsidy applied. |
| R5,501 – R10,000 | R1,400 – R2,200 | Secondary band. Moderate subsidy. |
| R10,001 – R15,000 | R2,300 – R3,300 | Tertiary band. Lighter subsidy, closer to break-even for the SHI. |
| R15,001 – R22,000 | R3,400 – R4,500 | Top of the eligibility band. Rent close to market for the location. |
Where social housing lives
Delivery is concentrated in five metros. Registration is done at the SHI that operates in the neighbourhood you want to live in, not at SHRA head office.
Johannesburg
Top SHIs: Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO), Madulammoho Housing Association, Trafalgar Social Housing.
Cape Town
Top SHIs: Communicare, SOHCO, Own Haven Housing Association, Communitas.
Ekurhuleni
Top SHIs: Yeast City Housing, Ekurhuleni Housing Company, JOSHCO Ekurhuleni operations.
eThekwini
Top SHIs: First Metro Housing Company, Umkhumbane SHI, iThemba Property Development.
Tshwane
Top SHIs: Yeast City Housing, Madulammoho, TUHF-supported affordable rental developments.
Eligibility
- South African citizen or permanent resident, aged 18 or older
- Household monthly income between R1,850 and R22,000
- Do not currently own residential property in South Africa
- Have not previously received an RDP / BNG house or a FLISP subsidy
- Willing to sign a lease of at least 12 months
How to register with an SHI
- Use the SHRA "Find a Landlord" directory to identify SHIs operating in the neighbourhood you want to live in.
- Contact the SHI directly. Most run their own online waiting-list registration; some accept walk-ins at the letting office.
- Submit certified ID, latest three months' payslips or affidavit if unemployed, and proof of household composition.
- Wait for a unit to open. Waiting lists move faster than RDP because turnover happens as tenants move out, not on new-build delivery only.
- Sign the lease and pay one month's deposit. Rent is reviewed annually against income.