Deposits, leases and what to check before you sign.
Put the rent amount, deposit, lease length, notice period and who covers utilities and maintenance in a written lease — even for a letting that was arranged informally through a personal contact.
It's standard for a landlord to ask for a deposit alongside the first month's rent. Walk through the property and record its condition and any appliances included before you move in, so there's a clear reference point when the deposit is returned.
Many residential and commercial lettings use prepaid electricity meters (through the Botswana Power Corporation) with water billed separately. Confirm in writing which of these, if any, are included in the rent before you sign.
Notice periods and renewal terms vary by landlord and property, so rely on what's actually written in your lease rather than a general assumption — and raise anything unclear with the landlord or agent before you sign, not after.
This is general, practical information for a demonstration marketplace, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Requirements and rates in Botswana change over time — confirm anything that matters to your decision with a locally admitted conveyancing attorney, the Deeds Registry, the relevant Land Board, the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) or the Bank of Botswana before acting on it.
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