How the rental deposit and lease exit calculator works
Last updated 10 November 2026
Leaving a rental involves three sums: the rent for part of the last month, the rent for any notice period you have not served, and the deposit with interest less deductions.
How it works
- Pro-rata rent = monthly rent times the day you leave divided by the days in that month.
- The notice period ends on the date notice was given plus the days your lease requires.
- Refund = deposit + interest − deductions. Interest is simple interest for the months held.
Worked example
With the starting figures:
- Rent for the last month, pro rata, is R 4 355.
- Interest on the deposit comes to R 450, and deductions claimed come to R 800.
- The deposit refund is R 8 650.
- You would leave on or after the day the notice period ends, so no notice rent is shown.
How to read your result
The headline is the deposit refund: the deposit plus interest, less the deductions the landlord claims. If the deductions are bigger than the deposit and interest, the headline changes to the amount you may owe.
Pro-rata rent and notice rent are shown separately. They are not taken off the refund, because they depend on your lease and on what you and the landlord agree. Add them yourself if they apply, once you know how your lease treats them.
Notice period and the day you leave
The notice period ends on the date you gave notice plus the number of days your lease asks for. If you move out before that date, the landlord may ask for rent for the days left, unless the lease or the law lets you leave earlier.
The calculator spreads a year of rent over the days in a year to put a number on that period. It is a rough guide to the size of the amount, not a bill.
Deductions and interest
Deductions are costs the landlord takes from the deposit, such as cleaning, damage beyond normal wear, or unpaid rent. Enter each one as its own row so the list matches what the landlord sends you.
Interest is simple interest on the deposit for the months it was held, at the yearly rate you enter. Take the rate from your lease or from the landlord. The tool notes that deposit interest belongs to the tenant.
What this does not cover
This is arithmetic from the figures you enter. It does not decide whether a deduction is fair, and it is not legal advice. If you and your landlord disagree, the Rental Housing Tribunal can help with disputes. Keep your lease, your move-in and move-out photos, and the deposit statement together in one place.
Things to watch
- Take dated photos when you move in and out.
- Ask for the deposit statement in writing.
- Interest rates and notice rules differ by lease. Use the ones in yours.
Moving costs? See the cost of living comparator. Read the full disclaimer.
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