Compliant. Or closed.
Proposed Business Licensing is coming for South African short-term rentals

Compliance is coming.Will you be ready?

Business licences and permits are becoming mandatory for ALL short-term rentals in South Africa. Owners who act now stay legal, stay open, and stay profitable.

Are you compliant? Find out

100% focused on STRs

We understand your business — it's all we do.

National footprint

Nine SA provinces, one accountable point of contact.

End-to-end support

From assessment through submission and beyond.

Secure & POPIA-safe

Your information is handled with real care.

The stakes are real
Are you compliant? Find out

Don't lose your short-term rental income because you left it too late.

New legislation is coming that will make a business licence and operational compliance mandatory for every short-term rental in South Africa. Those who wait will face delays, fines, inspections, and shutdowns. Those who act now will stay open, stay legal, and stay profitable.

Our services

How STRLCS gets you compliant

Licensing Support

We guide you through the business licence application process from start to finish.

Compliance Audits

We assess your property against safety, health, and regulatory requirements.

Document Processing

We prepare, organise, and submit all required documents correctly and on time.

Inspection Coordination

We coordinate inspections with qualified professionals and relevant authorities.

Digital Records

We maintain and store your licences, permits, and certificates securely and digitally.

Ongoing Support

We keep you updated and ensure you remain compliant as regulations evolve.

The real risks

What's at stake if you don't act?

Fines up to R500,000

Per violation under the upcoming legislation.

Prison Time

Serious non-compliance can lead to criminal charges.

Random Inspections

Officials can show up at your door unannounced.

Business Shutdown

Your listing could be suspended or removed.

Massive Delays

Thousands will apply at once — don't get stuck in the queue.

The Business Licensing Bill is moving forward.

Compliance will soon be mandatory for ALL short-term rentals.

Free planning tool · No sign-up

See the rate cliff before it lands.

Cape Town's draft policy uses your availability to reclassify short-term rentals as commercial — and commercial rates run about 2.35× residential. Enter your municipal valuation, move the availability slider, and see where your property sits. No sign-up, no email required.

  • Uses the City's exact rate-in-the-rand figures
  • Side-by-side residential vs commercial comparison
  • Move the availability slider to test the cliff yourself
The multiplier
2.35×
Commercial vs residential

Once availability crosses the threshold, the property jumps from residential to commercial rates. The cliff isn't gradual — it's a step change.

Explore the numbers
Free Rate Calculator

Note: the rate reclassification itself is a market consequence — not something STRLCS handles. STRLCS helps owners comply with the laws and regulations so they can possibly avoid fines, OTA de-listing, and cease-and-desist notices for operating without the right licences. This calculator is a planning tool. The compliance check is separate.

The industry standard · Free to read

What compliant actually looks like.

We wrote a Practical Code of Good Practice for South African short-term rentals — 13 pillars covering community impact, life safety, insurance, biohazard protocol, listing integrity, and enforcement. Built from hospitality experience since the year 2000 and grounded in international best practice.

  • 13 pillars, from noise policy to biohazard protocol
  • Field observation from the City of Cape Town Business Licence Dept
  • Includes the Compliance Certificates Matrix — audit-ready overview
Read the Code of Good Practice →
How it works

Our simple 4-step process

Step 1
1

Assess

We review your property and requirements against the standard.

Step 2
2

Prepare

We prepare and compile all the documents you'll need.

Step 3
3

Submit

We submit the application to the Municipal Authority and coordinate.

Step 4
4

STRLCS Verified

You are compliant, protected, and recognised as a STRLCS Verified property.

Ready to act?

Be the owner who prepares early, not the one who gets closed.

Get compliant. Beat the rush. Protect your income.

  • Stay compliant
  • Avoid fines
  • Protect your business
  • Keep your income safe
  • We handle everything
Are you compliant? Find out
Secure. Private. No obligation.
Brinn Robey Tomes
Brinn Robey Tomes
Founder, STRLCS
About the Founder

Built by an STR industry leader — helping owners navigate the way.

  • In short-term rentals since the year 2000
  • Founded and sold four property-management companies
  • 500,000+ bookings managed · 1,000,000+ guests hosted
  • Author & public speaker on the future of short-term rentals
  • Property Management Futurist
  • STR big-tech & government consultant

STRLCS wasn't started by a consultancy that spotted an opportunity. It was started by someone who has been running short-term rentals globally since 2000, watched every version of STR regulations come and go, and is building the way forward the industry needs next.

Service providers

Serve compliance-verified STR owners across South Africa.

Fire safety, insurance, cleaning, maintenance — if your business serves short-term rental owners, apply to our Preferred Vendor programme and receive vetted referrals.

Become a Preferred Vendor →