1. What a Fidelity Fund certificate is

A Fidelity Fund certificate is the PPRA's confirmation that a person or firm may act as a property practitioner in South Africa. It is issued under section 47 of the Property Practitioners Act 22 of 2019.

Section 48 of the Act is the rule that matters. No person or entity may act as a property practitioner unless they hold a certificate. A firm's directors, members, trustees or partners each need one, and so does every practitioner the firm employs.

Acting without a certificate is an offence. The Act also says the practitioner must repay any amount received from a property transaction during that time, as soon as a relevant party asks for it.

Attorneys have their own Fidelity Fund certificate under the Legal Practice Act. That is a separate certificate, and this guide does not cover it.

2. Who needs a Fidelity Fund certificate

The PPRA describes a property practitioner as any person who, in the normal course of business, sells, lets, rents, markets, auctions or manages a property on behalf of someone else for remuneration. It can be a person or a company, close corporation or trust.

The PPRA's registration FAQ lists twelve groups, including estate agents, auctioneers, bond originators, managing agents, business brokers, developers, property advertising platforms and attorney employees.

2.1 Short-let managers

The Act's definition includes any person who manages a property on behalf of another for remuneration. A business paid to run Airbnb listings for owners fits that wording. An owner letting their own home does not, because they are not acting for someone else.

2.2 Who the PPRA is registering now

The PPRA says it is only registering estate agents and attorney employees. All other property practitioners may apply for an exemption from sections 47 and 48 under Section 4 of the Act until the PPRA starts registering them. The application uses Form E1 in the PPA Regulations.

If you manage short lets for owners, check with the PPRA which category you fall into before you take on clients.

3. How to get a Fidelity Fund certificate

Most people start as candidate property practitioners at a registered firm. The route depends on your level.

3.1 Candidate property practitioner

Submit the application form, a copy of your ID and an employment letter dated within the last six months. The letter shows the firm's reference number, which starts with F, and the principal's seven-digit number. Then pay the fee set in the current schedule.

3.2 Non-principal property practitioner

You need to have completed the internship, NQF 4 (or an exemption) and the Professional Designation Examination at level 4 (PDE 4). Submit the form, your ID, an employment letter signed by you and your principal, and the fee.

3.3 Principal of an estate agency

On top of the non-principal requirements, a principal needs NQF 5 (or an exemption) and PDE 5, plus the firm's validated documents.

3.4 Registering a firm

A firm reserves its name on the PPRA portal, then uploads the firm application form, a bank letter for its trust account (or an exemption affidavit), an auditor's letter, FICA registration, a BEE certificate, tax clearance and CIPC documents. A company resolution names the principal, whose application goes in with the firm's.

Payments go to the PPRA by EFT or direct deposit, using your seven-digit reference number.

4. What it costs and when to renew

The PPRA sets new fees every year, so we have not quoted figures here. The PPRA Schedule of Fees 2026/2027 lists the current amounts for new certificates, renewals and late penalties.

4.1 The renewal window

Certificates are issued for three years. According to the PPRA's renewals page, the renewal period opens on 1 July and closes on 31 October, for certificates that expire on 31 December that year.

To renew, pay the fee using your seven-digit reference number and send the renewal form with a copy of your ID. Principals also include the firm's latest tax clearance certificate.

4.2 Late renewals

Applications after 31 October pay a penalty for every month they are late. The PPRA cannot issue the certificate until the penalty is paid, and you may not use or display a certificate that has lapsed.

5. How to check a Fidelity Fund certificate

Use the PPRA Practitioner Search. You can search by a practitioner's name, their seven-digit reference number, a firm's registered or trading name, or the firm's reference number starting with F.

You can also ask. Under section 47 of the Act, a practitioner must produce their certificate, or a certified copy, when a relevant party asks to see it.

If you are handing your property to a manager, check before you sign.

6. Running a short-let management business in South Africa

Paid management of other people's homes sits inside the Act's definition, whatever the PPRA's current registration timetable. Plan for the rules from the start.

Set up the firm properly

The firm documents the PPRA asks for, such as tax clearance, a trust account letter and CIPC records, are the same ones a well-run management business keeps anyway. Get them in order early.

Watch the local rules too

Licensing is one layer. In Cape Town, the City's draft short-term letting by-law would add property registration and listing numbers on top.

Run the numbers

Our guide to what a Cape Town Airbnb can earn has nightly rates and occupancy by area. Owners who want a manager can see Airbnb management in Cape Town. If you want to manage short lets yourself, see how a Houst partnership works in South Africa or how Airbnb co-hosting works in South Africa.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check your position with the PPRA or a qualified adviser.