FREE 23-PAGE JOHANNESBURG RELOCATION GUIDE:
Moving to Johannesburg?
We have all the information you need.
The Johannesburg Relocation Guide is a free guide for international families and professionals deciding where to live, which schools to consider and how to settle safely in Johannesburg.
It explains the decisions in the order that usually works best: confirm the office location, understand your school options, compare realistic commuting times, choose a suburb and only then start looking for a home.
Written by Hannah Pirnie, Johannesburg relocation specialist and registered Property Practitioner. Hannah moved from the UK to Johannesburg with her own family in 2010.
Inside the Johannesburg Relocation Guide
The suburbs international families actually consider—and what each one offers
Why choosing the school should usually come before choosing the home
What Johannesburg property listings do not tell you
A calm, practical approach to security
The real effect of traffic and commuting
Why Hannah recommends renting before buying
What to organise before you land
Nine common mistakes relocating families can avoid
Hannah’s ten-step starting checklist
Complete the short form below to get your copy of The Johannesburg Relocation Guide.
“This was such a lifesaver, thank you so much for putting everything together in one place, I felt so overwhelmed before I could put everything down in one place.
— Caroline Jones
This guide will not tell you exactly where to live
Nobody honest can do that in a PDF.
The right answer depends on where the office is, whether schools are part of your move, how you want your family to live and how much time you are willing to spend in the car.
What this guide will do is help you ask the right questions before you commit to the wrong school, suburb or property.
About Hannah
Hannah Pirnie is a Johannesburg relocation specialist and registered Property Practitioner with eXp Realty South Africa.
She moved from the UK to Johannesburg with her husband’s work in 2010 and now helps international families make decisions about Johannesburg schools, suburbs, security, renting and buying property, look-and-see visits and settling into local life.
Hannah is also the co-host of New in Town: Johannesburg, a podcast created for people moving to and living in the city.
A note from Hannah
I remember trying to understand a city I had never lived in while making decisions that would shape our entire family life.
Today, I help international families make those decisions with much more clarity: which school, which suburb, where to live, what is genuinely safe and what to do first.
Johannesburg can give your family an extraordinary life. The beginning is simply much easier when someone helps you understand how the city really works.
Please do reach out if you have any questions, or I can help make your move easier!
Essential answers before moving to Johannesburg
Which Johannesburg suburbs do international families consider?
Popular central choices include Parkhurst, Parktown North, Craighall Park, Rosebank, Saxonwold, Westcliff, Greenside, Emmarentia and Linden.
Families wanting secure complexes or estate living often consider Bryanston, Dainfern, Cedar Lakes, Fourways and Waterfall.
There is no single best suburb for every expat family. The right choice depends on the location of the office and school, the daily commute, the type of security you prefer and whether you want a walkable neighbourhood, a free-standing home or a gated estate.
Should you choose a Johannesburg school or a home first?
For most relocating families, the school should come before the home.
Johannesburg traffic means that a house which appears close to a school on a map can still create a difficult daily journey. Once a suitable school place has been confirmed, Hannah generally recommends looking for a home within approximately five kilometres of the school.
International families should also confirm the child’s grade placement in writing because the South African academic year runs from January to December and age cut-offs may differ from those in the family’s home country.
Is Johannesburg safe for international families?
Crime is a genuine consideration, but Johannesburg cannot be understood from crime statistics alone. The aim is to be safety conscious without allowing fear to define family life.
When comparing homes, ask about armed response, alarms, electric fencing, outdoor beams, access control and neighbourhood security. Gated estates are one option, but many families also live happily in free-standing homes in established suburbs with good property security and active neighbourhood networks.
No suburb or property should be described as completely safe. Security should be assessed property by property and street by street.
Should expats rent or buy when they first move to Johannesburg?
Most international families should rent for at least six months and preferably for their first full year.
Renting gives a family time to test the school, commute, suburb and style of daily life before making a long-term property decision. It is difficult to know from overseas whether your family will prefer a walkable neighbourhood, a secure complex or a large gated estate.
What should you organise before moving to Johannesburg?
Start with the matters that shape every later decision:
Confirm the office address and accompanying partner’s visa position
Apply to several suitable schools as early as possible
Confirm each child’s likely grade placement
Book four to six weeks of short-term accommodation
Allow enough time for shipping, customs and pet arrangements
Arrange suitable medical cover
Bring certified copies of important family and school documents
Plan a look-and-see visit before signing a long-term lease
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