HUNDREDS of homeowners are working against time to spruce up their homes in the hopes of cashing in as much as R14000 a day from renting them out to scores of tourists expected to flock to Nelson Mandela Bay for the World Cup.

Homeowners in Port Elizabeth will make anything from R4000 to a whopping R14000 a day in rentals, with most expected to make between R5000 and R7000 a day for the 46 days of the soccer showpiece.

In the Southern Cape, which is expected to host several teams, homeowners can expect to get between R600 and R1000 per person per day, property experts say.

However, Pam Golding Properties Port Elizabeth manager Richard Wright has warned that property owners hoping to climb on the bandwagon should take insurance into account. “Once you move out of your home and bring short-term tenants in, then your insurance is substantial.

You need to cover your items and the people who are in your home. I foresee a lot of damages and losses over that period.”

Wright said his company was letting high-end properties for World Cup tourists in Cape Town only.

“We have received a lot of calls but we are not doing this anywhere else.”

Seeff Port Elizabeth manager Avril O’Leary said she had had about 200 requests from local residents and was still getting up to 10 calls a day from people hoping to let their homes to World Cup visitors.

She said former footballer and soccer commentator Gary Bailey had entered into a joint venture with Seeff to ensure foreign visitors received quality accommodation at the best possible prices.

Prices were determined on the home’s features and number of beds, and its proximity to the stadium.

“Some people who own two homes will live in their second home during the World Cup. Some plan to go overseas and others are moving in with family.

“Some will even stay in one room and let out the rest of their home to visitors.

“A condition we set is that there is someone there to clean up, change the linen and do the cooking.”

O’Leary said tourists were waiting for the all-important pool draw on December 4, when it would also be decided in which cities the games would be hosted.

Port Elizabeth resident Keith Wattrus has also entered into a joint venture with Seeff, to ensure that tourists renting homes in Redhouse, Amsterdamhoek and Swartkops are kept entertained while staying in the area.

Riverside Living, as the venture has been named, will see rowing, fishing, watersports, deep sea diving and excursions to game reserves available to the tourists.

Seeff Properties Eastern Cape and Garden Route chairman Alan Evans said he had already placed 60 homes in the Knysna area on the rental database, and expected the same number in George, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay.

Just Letting franchisee Pam Young said the company was offering overseas clients a service by compiling a database of homes available for renting during the tournament. She said prices ranged from R400 to R2500 per room per day.

A R400 room was very basic, with no television set, while the upper end room had a double bed, en suite bathroom, TV and other features.

“We will visit the home and take pictures, and give its proximity to the stadium or the beach, and send the information to our head office, which will then take the decision as to whether or not we will use the home.”

Young said breakfast had to be served and the rooms cleaned daily, and towels and linen replaced every second day.

Next year will be the second time Mount Croix couple Sue and Gary Hagemann invite World Cup tourists into their home. They also offered accommodation during the cricket World Cup in 2003.

Sue said they would be making service excellence a priority for their guests.

“I will be doing the cooking and we will be making their stay is as comfortable as possible. We are totally geared and ready for them, and we have a real interest in people.

“It is wonderful meeting new people and we are still in contact with those who were here for the cricket.”

She said she did not have any confirmed guests as yet and that the rental price, which was set by Seeff, was still being negotiated but she expected it to be about R1000 per person per day.

Many homeowners are also applying for their homes to be rezoned as businesses in order to open guesthouses for the World Cup, which is expected to see thousands of tourists arrive in South Africa next year.

One Port Elizabeth couple said they had applied in February for rezoning but were still waiting for the go-ahead from the municipality.

“They say there is a shortage of beds in Port Elizabeth, but we have waited 10 months for our application. We are going to go ahead with the construction in the meantime but I do think the municipality should be making this one of their priorities,” said Dean Watson, of Parsons Hill.

“We are not doing this exclusively for the World Cup. I think there will still be a market for visitors after it is over.”

Watson said he was building on five rooms to their home and they would have at least seven beds for the World Cup.

According to Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, the metropolitan area currently has 392 facilities, with 6650 rooms and 15815 beds. Of these facilities, 29 are hotels, 85 self-catering apartments, 98 bed and breakfasts, 113 guesthouses, nine resorts, four camping and caravaning facilities and 13 lodges.

There are also 10 backpackers’ facilities and six cottages, and the university’s accommodation is also included.

Municipal spokesman Kupido Baron said the municipality would only be able to estimate the number of visitors after the selection draw in Cape Town on December 4.

“That is when you will know who is coming to which town and which teams will be playing in each town.

“If there is a major team coming to Nelson Mandela Bay, then you can estimate the number of spectators who will arrive by looking at past tournaments.”

Baron said Nelson Mandela Bay’s stadium would be hosting eight matches as well as a quarter-finals game and third place play-off.

“We will also be looking at towns just outside Nelson Mandela Bay, like Humansdorp and Jeffreys Bay. For fans coming from all over the world, the drive from nearby towns to watch a match will be nothing.

“This way the nearby towns can also benefit from the World Cup, instead of just the cities where the matches will be held.”

theherald