Government · Complaint & ombud
Property Ombudsman South Africa Contact Details
All complaint & ombud routesCheck this is the right body
South Africa has no body called the “Property Ombudsman”: complaints about estate agents and letting agents go to the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) on 087 742 0000, and disputes in sectional title schemes and homeowners’ associations go to the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) on 0800 000 653. The Property Ombudsman is a UK scheme, and although the Property Practitioners Bill proposed a Property Practitioners Ombud Office, the final Property Practitioners Act 22 of 2019 did not create one.
This page helps you pick the right body. Landlord and tenant disputes go to the provincial Rental Housing Tribunals instead; see the rental ombudsman contact details page.
Property ombud contact details at a glance
| Route | Details |
|---|---|
| PPRA main line | 087 742 0000 |
| PPRA general information email | eab@theppra.org.za |
| PPRA call centre for complaint progress (if not contacted within 14 work days) | 087 285 3222 |
| PPRA online complaint against a property practitioner | theppra.org.za/compliance-and-investigations/investigations/online-legal-complaint/ |
| PPRA practitioner search (check an agent is registered) | theppra.org.za/practitioner-search/ |
| PPRA head office | 63 Wierda Road East (Cnr Johan), Wierda Valley, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2196 |
| PPRA Cape Town office | Sable Square, 2nd floor block D, Cnr Bosmandsdam and Ratanga Road, Century City, Milnerton, Cape Town, 7441 |
| PPRA postal address | Private Bag X10, Benmore, 2010 |
| CSOS toll-free (community schemes: sectional title, HOA disputes) | 0800 000 653 |
| CSOS email | info@csos.org.za |
| CSOS head office phone | +27 10 593 0533 |
| CSOS head office | Die Anker Building, 1279 Mike Crawford St, Centurion, 0169 |
| Hours (PPRA and CSOS) | Monday to Friday 08:00 to 16:30 |
Official contact channels
PPRA: complaints about estate agents and property practitioners
The PPRA replaced the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB), which is why its general mailbox is still eab@theppra.org.za. Call 087 742 0000 for general enquiries. Complaints are lodged online, and if you have not been contacted within 14 work days, call the call centre on 087 285 3222 to check progress.
Use only the official site, theppra.org.za. The similar-looking theppra.org (without .za) is a third-party redirect and advertising site that is not affiliated with the PPRA.
CSOS: disputes in community schemes
CSOS is the statutory ombud for disputes in sectional title schemes, homeowners’ associations and other community schemes. Call 0800 000 653 toll-free, the head office on +27 10 593 0533, or email info@csos.org.za. For more on CSOS, see the CSOS complaints contact details page.
What each body handles
- PPRA: disputes between consumers and property practitioners, such as estate agents and letting agents, and disputes between practitioners. It has no jurisdiction over what a practitioner does in a private capacity.
- CSOS: disputes involving a body corporate, a homeowners’ association or another community scheme.
- Rental Housing Tribunals: landlord and tenant disputes, handled per province.
A property practitioner found guilty can be reprimanded or fined up to R25 000 per contravention. If you suffered financial loss, you may get a compensatory award of up to 80% of the fine. A Fidelity Fund claim is only considered after the complaint is finalised or suspended, and only against a practitioner who was registered with a valid fidelity fund certificate.
Complaints and escalation process
- Identify the dispute: an estate agent’s or letting agent’s conduct goes to the PPRA; a body corporate or HOA dispute goes to CSOS.
- For the PPRA, check the agent on the Practitioner Search, then lodge the online complaint once only, attaching the required supporting documents. Complaints must be made in writing on a Complaint Initiation Form.
- The respondent is given 30 days to reply in writing. The PPRA’s Investigation, Mediation and Adjudications department contacts you within 14 work days with a reference number. Investigations can take 3 months or more.
- If you are not contacted within 14 work days, call 087 285 3222 for progress.
- If the matter is referred to a hearing, you must attend to give evidence.
An appeal against a PPRA disciplinary finding must be made in writing within 30 days, with a R2,750.00 transcript deposit that is refunded if the appeal succeeds.
Address and operating information
The PPRA head office is at 63 Wierda Road East (Cnr Johan), Wierda Valley, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2196, and its Cape Town office is at Sable Square, 2nd floor block D, Cnr Bosmandsdam and Ratanga Road, Century City, Milnerton, Cape Town, 7441. Post goes to Private Bag X10, Benmore, 2010. CSOS’s head office is at Die Anker Building, 1279 Mike Crawford St, Centurion, 0169. Both are open Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:30. For other public bodies, browse the government hub or the government directory P listings.
FAQs
Is there a Property Ombudsman in South Africa?
No. Complaints about estate agents go to the PPRA on 087 742 0000, and community scheme disputes go to CSOS on 0800 000 653.
How do I complain about an estate agent?
Lodge an online complaint with the PPRA on theppra.org.za. You should be contacted within 14 work days; if not, call 087 285 3222.
Who handles body corporate disputes?
The Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS): call 0800 000 653 or email info@csos.org.za.
What is the PPRA email address?
The PPRA’s general information mailbox is eab@theppra.org.za.
Sources
- PPRA, Contact us: theppra.org.za/contact-us/, read 2026-09-26
- PPRA, Online legal complaint: theppra.org.za/compliance-and-investigations/investigations/online-legal-complaint/, read 2026-09-26
- PPRA, How to lodge a complaint: theppra.org.za/compliance-and-investigations/investigations/how-to-lodge-a-complaint/, read 2026-09-26
- PPRA, Home page: theppra.org.za, read 2026-09-26
- CSOS, Contact: csos.org.za/contact/, read 2026-09-26