A foreign-owned company may generally acquire or lease commercial property, subject to the same title-registration, tax, exchange-control, zoning, environmental and planning framework and any sector-specific or strategic-land rules. This review found no enacted general prohibition on foreign land ownership as at 20 September 2026; proposals or policy statements should not be described as existing law. Agricultural, land-reform or strategically sensitive acquisitions require specific current review.

Property due diligence should verify the registered owner and title, bonds, servitudes and restrictions, land claims or restitution issues where relevant, zoning and consent use, approved building plans, occupancy, environmental conditions, utilities, access, municipal charges and the physical condition. The intended operation may require rezoning, consent use, environmental authorisation, water use, air-emission, waste, fire or health approval.

A lease should deal with permitted use, commencement conditions, fit-out, access, service charges, utilities, maintenance, repair, insurance, compliance works, signage, subletting, assignment, renewal, termination and reinstatement. Check whether the landlord’s consent or finance documents limit alterations or regulated activity.

For acquisition, consider transfer duty or VAT treatment, deeds registration, financing security and FICA onboarding. A non-resident funding the acquisition should involve its authorised dealer early and preserve evidence of introduced capital for later repatriation.

Do not allow a property deadline to outrun licensing. Make the lease or purchase conditional where zoning, environmental, construction or sector approval is essential, and determine who bears the risk and cost if it is refused or delayed.