Questions, answered honestly

We do two things, and we do them to the same standard: property setup, which gets a space furnished, styled and guest-ready, and interior design and decorating, which runs from a focused refresh to a complete redesign. You can take the full journey from empty space to finished property, or a single service such as furniture sourcing, space redesign or 3D renders. We serve Pretoria and Johannesburg.

It starts with a consultation at your property, priced between R750 and R1,500 depending on where you are in Pretoria or Johannesburg. We walk the space with you, talk through your goals and give you honest feedback on what the property needs to earn well. If you decide to go ahead with us, the full consultation fee is credited back against your project, so it effectively costs you nothing.

Yes. Every service we offer is also available on its own, including consultation, space planning and design, furniture sourcing, 3D renders, and styling and installation. We will always tell you what we believe the property needs, but you choose what you take, and there is no pressure to bundle.

Our property setup service starts from R15,000, excluding furniture and décor. That covers organising the space into a guest-ready home: layout, styling, the full essentials list and getting it photo-ready. Furniture and décor are costed separately because every property is different; as a rough market guide, furnishing a South African property from scratch starts at around R20,000 per room, and at your consultation we give you a realistic budget for your specific space before you commit to anything.

Full interior design is charged at 10 to 15% of project value, which is the standard model for full-service design in South Africa. If you want to see the design before anything is bought, we produce 3D renders at R2,000 to R5,000 per room. That way you approve the look, layout and colour palette on screen first, not after the couch has arrived.

It depends on scope. Setting up a property that is already largely furnished moves quickest, while a full design project takes longer because furniture lead times in South Africa can run to several weeks. We confirm a realistic timeline in your proposal before work starts, and we keep you updated throughout rather than leaving you guessing.

It can, so this is the first thing to check. Under the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act, a body corporate can restrict or ban short-term letting through properly adopted conduct rules, and South African courts and the Community Schemes Ombud Service have upheld such rules. Before we onboard a sectional title unit, we ask you to confirm what your scheme's conduct rules say, and we would rather flag a problem upfront than set you up for fines and disputes later.

Only with your landlord's blessing. Most South African leases restrict subletting, and listing a rented property without written permission puts you in breach of your lease. We ask for written landlord consent during onboarding, and we are happy to talk you through what to raise with your landlord first.

Yes. There is currently no dedicated Airbnb permit or night cap in either city, and the national Tourism Amendment Bill that proposed thresholds has stalled. Depending on your property's zoning, the City of Tshwane and City of Johannesburg land use schemes may require consent for visitor accommodation, so we recommend confirming your zoning position, especially for larger or commercial-scale operations.

Short-term rental income is fully taxable and SARS expects it to be declared, whether it arrives through Airbnb or any other channel. The good news is that expenses such as cleaning, maintenance, levies and apportioned utilities are generally deductible, and if your rental income passes R1 million in a 12-month period you must register for VAT. We are not tax practitioners, so we recommend a registered professional for advice on your situation.

Almost certainly, yes. A standard household policy often excludes claims involving paying guests, so you need to tell your insurer that you are hosting and arrange cover that includes short-term letting and public liability. Airbnb's AirCover helps with guest damage, but it is not a substitute for your own insurance, and we would rather you have both.