There has been much talk about South Africans renting out their homes to visitors during the 2010 World Cup. It seems like a great way to make some money and help alleviate the strained 2010 accommodation situation. But how does one go about it?

A new website,www.2010propertyrentals.co.za, provides the answer to this question. The website is a slick matchmaking service for 2010 visitors looking for accommodation, and South African homeowners willing to rent out their homes during the 2010 World Cup. According to Sherril Baard, an experienced estate agent and founder of the site, 2010 Property Rentals has the legal thumbs up and has already starting registering homes.

So what prices can South Africans expect to charge visitors to stay in their homes? Baard told Shine 2010 that people could charge good prices, but shouldn’t push their luck:

“We say, just because these people are paying in dollars or whatever currency they are going to pay in, don’t rip the client off. That is not what this is about.”

Prices listed on the site ranged from R750 per day for a three-bedroom house in Durbanville to R2000 per day for a four-bedroom house in Kraaifontein.

Baard added that guests would have to pay significant security deposits, and would be screened as thoroughly as possible. This would be done using application forms and credit checks conducted by Metcash.

Although 2010 Property Rentals currently focuses on the Western Cape, Baard said that the service is open to other provinces. However, unless more than fifty homeowners in each region registered their homes, she would not be able to appoint an agent to the region to ensure that homeowners and guests received the same levels of attention.

“We’ve said we will take them, but if we have less than fifty houses in each area we cannot put an agent down there to make sure that everything is right - then they are going to have to put the people in themselves.”

So does one need a mansion overlooking Camps Bay to make the cut? Baard’s answer is an emphatic no. A clean, welcoming home will do.

“We have an agent who goes around and makes sure that the houses are friendly, clean, neat, tidy, and secure, and to make sure that our visitors have what they are paying for.”

“I’m not saying it has to be a five star hotel, but some of these houses are better than five star hotels. You are welcome to look on our site – the houses we have are immaculate. These are proud people who have put their houses on, they are proud South Africans.”