Selby is a city-fringe office node south-west of the Johannesburg CBD, suited to companies that need central Johannesburg access without taking space in the core. It works for practical office users: administration teams, sales offices, service businesses and commercial tenants that value road access, straightforward building formats and cost control over a corporate campus environment.
That location gives Selby a clear role in the Johannesburg office market. Businesses can operate into the CBD, Fordsburg, Booysens and the wider southern and western business routes via the M2 corridor. For tenants assessing office rentals in Selby, the main attraction is the balance between central positioning and a functional, operations-led commercial setting.
Selby on the map
The defined node boundary and the 339 buildings Anvil Property tracks within it.
Understanding the area
The office ecosystem is driven by practical commercial users that want a Johannesburg address with direct reach into the inner-city economy. The tenant mix is less about large corporate headquarters and more about companies running administration, client service, accounts, coordination and support functions from compact to mid-sized offices. Many businesses here serve an inner-city client base, so the value lies in being accessible to staff, customers and suppliers without paying for a campus-style office environment.
The area works for tenants that need usable space, clear access and manageable monthly commitments. Typical office demand comes from businesses with operationally focused teams, including:
- Professional and business services firms
- Administration and finance departments
- Training and consulting businesses
- Sales and client-service offices
- Regional or satellite office teams
That mix shapes how office rentals in Selby are assessed. Tenants usually focus on fit-out condition, parking arrangements, building access, signage potential and whether the floor plate supports their staff count without wasted area.
Selby has developed as a mature city-fringe office location where older commercial buildings, refurbished spaces and functional office suites carry more weight than image-led specifications. The stock suits tenants that understand their space requirement and want the rental to reflect real utility. For a business comparing office rentals in Selby, the node is best read as a cost-controlled operating base with central Johannesburg reach, not a speculative address play.
Why businesses choose this area
The strongest argument is the access-to-cost ratio. A tenant can keep an office within reach of the Johannesburg CBD and the western and southern business routes, while avoiding the rental profile and operating complexity that often come with core CBD or decentralised campus locations. For companies that measure office rentals against staff travel, client access and monthly overhead, that trade-off is the point.
The area is most relevant to businesses with a practical reason to operate near central Johannesburg routes:
- Administration and back-office teams
- Sales and service offices
- Client-facing commercial firms
- Regional coordination offices
- Cost-sensitive professional services
That tenant profile should assess Selby against function, not image. The area suits companies that need direct M2 access, short movements into the CBD grid, and workable links to Booysens, Fordsburg and the broader south-western corridor. It is less compelling for a business whose office decision is driven mainly by landscaped campus amenities or large-scale corporate reception areas.
The comparison with more established office nodes is straightforward. Sandton, Rosebank and parts of the northern suburbs offer deeper corporate office ecosystems, but they also carry higher rental expectations and longer cross-city travel for staff or clients based south and west of Johannesburg. Selby gives a business a more operational position: central without the core. That makes sense where the office supports daily execution, customer meetings, dispatch coordination, finance teams or management oversight across multiple Johannesburg locations.
Tenants should still be selective. The right Selby office depends on frontage, parking, access control, fit-out condition and how quickly staff can reach the M2 or surrounding arterials at peak times. Where those basics line up, Selby gives office users a clear commercial case: lower-friction access to the inner-city economy with office rentals that can be managed more tightly than in larger corporate nodes.
Infrastructure and building specifications
Office infrastructure in Selby is practical and varied. Across our office listings, the median unit is 899 m², with a typical P25–P75 band of 400–1,500 m² and larger office buildings extending beyond 10,000 m². That gives the area more depth for companies needing bigger floor plates than a conventional small-suite node, while smaller teams are still catered for through one serviced-office building with 8-desk suites.
Building grade is mixed across the office properties we cover, so due diligence should focus less on headline grade and more on the condition of the actual floor, common areas and services. Some offices suit immediate occupation after light works; others need a clearer capex view on air-conditioning, ceilings, lighting, ablutions and data reticulation. Parking should be checked building by building, including allocation, visitor access, loading interface and whether bays are open, covered or basement.
Before committing to a Selby office lease, tenants should inspect the items that affect daily operating cost and staff usability:
- Backup power position and electrical capacity
- HVAC age, zoning and maintenance records
- Fibre availability and internal cabling
- Parking ratio and visitor bay control
- Lift access, ablutions and common-area condition
Green credentials are limited in the Selby office stock we list: 6 of 339 buildings, or 2%, currently hold a green rating. For companies with ESG reporting requirements, a certified building should be identified early. For other tenants, practical efficiency measures such as LED lighting, metered utilities and well-maintained HVAC may carry more immediate operational value.
- Building grade
- B-grade (71% of stock)
- Median floor plate
- 665 m²
- Typical floor plate range
- 387–1,500 m² (middle half of stock)
- Largest available
- 9,000+ m² (top of stock)
- Serviced offices
- 8 desks across 1 buildings
- Green-rated stock
- 6 of 339 buildings (2%)
Property rental rates
Across our listings in Selby, office rentals run from R74 to R105 per m² (10th to 90th percentile), median R80 per m² on a net asking basis. The indicative gross figure is about R89 per m² gross, including rates and levies, so tenants should compare proposals on the same basis and request a full rental breakdown before signing.
The space likely to move first is practical, well-priced office accommodation where the existing fit-out reduces upfront spend and the landlord can give clear numbers on operating costs. Movement within the band is usually driven by a few direct variables:
- fit-out condition and re-use value
- parking allocation and access arrangements
- lease term and escalation structure
- frontage, visibility and building position
- landlord contribution to tenant installation
A lower net asking rental can still cost more in use if rates, levies, parking and reinstatement exposure are not checked early. For Selby office tenants, the decision point is less about chasing the lowest net rate and more about securing a workable gross occupancy cost with limited capex surprises.
| Monthly budget | Approximate size | Likely property type |
|---|---|---|
| Up to R15,000 | 31 – 356 m² (median 45) | Small fitted suites (5 listed) |
| R15,000 – R50,000 | 294 – 670 m² (median 450) | Small office suites (9 listed) |
| R50,000 – R150,000 | 25 – 1500 m² (median 935) | Mid-sized offices (28 listed) |
| R150,000+ | 40 – 24750 m² (median 6376) | Whole floors / corporate HQ (12 listed) |
Key buildings
- 59 Helen Joseph St, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
Sage Centre Building
10 listingsEstablished mixed-use office building in Johannesburg Central, opposite the Central Johannesburg Library and a few blocks from Bank City. Suits businesses needing practical CBD offices with ground-floor retail presence and strong public transport access.
- 24 Prop St, Selby South, Johannesburg, 2001, South Africa
Secure multi-unit industrial park on the John and Prop Street corner in Selby South, with quick M1 and M2 access. Suits small to mid-sized manufacturing, warehousing and distribution businesses needing practical, flexible space.
- 4 Prolecon Rd, Prolecon, Johannesburg South, 2001, South Africa
Prolecon Industrial Park
7 listingsSecure mini industrial park in Prolecon, just off Heidelberg Road near the M2 and City Deep. Neat practical units suit small manufacturers, repair workshops, light storage and assembly businesses.
- 84 Commissioner St, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2107, South Africa
National Bank House
7 listingsMid-century office building on Commissioner Street in Marshalltown’s traditional banking district. Flexible small to large office suites suit finance, professional services and back-office tenants needing a central Johannesburg CBD base.
- 6 krag St, Selby, Johannesburg
Selby Warehouse Complex
6 listingsHighway-facing industrial park on Krag Street in Selby with secure access and a circular truck-friendly yard. Suited to logistics, warehousing and light industrial tenants needing M2 visibility and central Johannesburg distribution access.
- 81 Main St, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2107, South Africa
81/85 Main Building
5 listingsCorner office building at Main and Simmonds in Marshalltown’s CBD, within the South Western Improvement District. Suits businesses needing direct access to Gandhi Square, Rea Vaya, Westgate and the M1/M2 routes.
- Corner Rosettenville road & Laub Street, Village Main, Johannesburg
Secure urban industrial park on Rosettenville Road in Village Main, a few minutes from the Johannesburg CBD and Faraday. Functional small-bay warehouse units with offices and roller shutters suit distribution, light manufacturing and last-mile delivery tenants.
- 14 Alexander St, Ferreiras Dorp, Johannesburg, 2048, South Africa
1 Fox Precinct
4 listingsRestored 1890s warehouse precinct on the western edge of Johannesburg CBD in Ferreirasdorp, near the M1/M2 and Marshalltown. Industrial-style retail space suited to food, showroom, event and destination-led businesses.
Available properties
NB 603
National Bank House
National Bank House: Four Distinct 6th-Floor Units with Open-Plan Brilliance Unit 1: Modern Minimalism Fresh Appeal: Meticulously rep...
FLOOR 13 SOUTH 294M2
81/85 Main Building
No description available
FLOOR 3 NORTH 500M2
81/85 Main Building
No description available
ANDERSON PLACE: FLOOR 8
Anderson Place
No description available
3RD FLOOR
Swiss House, Marshalltown, Johannesburg
"Discover the perfect spot for your growing business": With ample space available, this mixed-use building offers the perfect spot for bu...
UCB HOUSE 5THFLOOR
UCB House
Commercial in every aspect this Office Space TO LET shows great partitioned for optimal workflow shows this unit's government grass roots...
Investments and developments
Capital and infrastructure activity in Selby. These are projects that materially change the supply, access or amenity of the node.
- Under construction2025
Selby BRT Depot Adds Admin Block in Move Towards Safe, Reliable Public Transport
The Johannesburg Development Agency said the Selby BRT depot upgrade was nearing completion, adding an administration block and bus-maintenance facilities to improve Rea Vaya operations from a centralised hub in Selby.
Golden Metro / City of Johannesburg ↗ - Announced2026
Development Planning MMC Mgcina gives strategic inner city projects the thumbs up
The City of Johannesburg said an oversight visit covered the Selby BRT Depot as one of several strategic inner-city projects intended to support broader revitalisation through transport and public-infrastructure investment.
City of Johannesburg ↗
As of 2026-07-27
The bottom line
View Selby as a fit-for-purpose office base, not a lifestyle-led office destination. Its case is strongest when a company knows why it needs to be near central Johannesburg routes and wants office rentals that keep overheads disciplined. The area suits teams that value access, usable floor plates and straightforward premises decisions over image-led leasing criteria.
The honest work is in the shortlist. Buildings can differ in presentation, fit-out condition, parking arrangements and landlord responsiveness, so tenants should inspect each option on its own merits before committing. For the right business, that selectivity is an advantage: it keeps the lease decision tied to operating requirements instead of paying for features that do not change daily performance.
Selby works when the office is there to support a cost-controlled commercial function with direct reach into Johannesburg’s inner-city economy. The closing comparison is clear: choose Selby when a practical address near the CBD matters more than a campus environment, and when monthly occupation cost carries real weight in the decision.
Frequently asked questions
Selby mainly offers practical industrial space: warehouses with roller-shutter access, light manufacturing units, workshops, storage space and trade-counter premises. The area suits businesses that need central Johannesburg access, where movement onto the M2 and Main Reef Road matters more than a corporate office finish. Stock varies by building, from older functional sheds to refurbished units with improved offices, yards and loading.
Selby offers practical office rentals in multi-tenanted commercial buildings, standalone office properties, and converted commercial premises suited to administration, sales, service, and back-office teams. Space is typically functional, with open-plan floors, cellular offices, reception areas, meeting rooms, and on-site parking as the main features to compare. The area is a better fit for companies prioritising central Johannesburg access and operational practicality over highly fitted corporate campuses.
Across the Selby warehouse and industrial properties we currently list, net asking rentals run R40 to R101 per m² (10th to 90th percentile), with a median of R53 per m². On a gross basis, including rates and levies, the typical figure is about R55 per m². Selby remains a cost-sensitive industrial node, so the final rate usually depends on warehouse condition and access as much as the headline rental.
In Selby, office rentals are usually negotiated building by building, with pricing driven by fit-out condition, parking allocation, visibility, and access to the M1/M2 routes and Johannesburg CBD. Expect a value-oriented office market, where older A-grade offices with original interiors price differently from refurbished suites or units with stronger frontage and on-site parking. For a reliable benchmark, compare current office availability on a like-for-like basis, including gross rental inclusions, operating costs, and any tenant installation allowance.
Yes. Selby is a practical fit for logistics, distribution and light manufacturing because it gives businesses an established industrial setting near the Johannesburg CBD, with access to the M1 and M2 routes. The main checks are property-specific: yard depth, loading configuration, truck circulation, power supply and whether the building’s older industrial layout suits the operation. For heavy manufacturing or high-volume fleet movement, Selby can work, but only where the site has the right access, turning space and services.
Selby can work for regional offices, operational head offices, and cost-sensitive corporate teams that need Johannesburg CBD access, practical road connectivity, and functional office accommodation. It is better suited to companies prioritising parking, staff access, and day-to-day administration than to client-entertainment-heavy headquarters needing a Sandton-style corporate setting. For a national headquarters, the decision should be building-specific: check fit-out condition, signage exposure, parking allocation, and the quality of the immediate block.
Across the Selby warehouses we currently list, eaves at 1.0 to 12.0 m reflect a wide spread, with mixed-grade stock ranging from low-clearance units to taller warehouse boxes. For loading, no dock levellers are recorded in our listed stock, so tenants should verify roller-shutter height, yard depth, truck turning and on-grade access during the viewing.
For office tenants in Selby, parking is usually handled at building level, with a mix of on-site open bays, covered or shaded bays where the property has been upgraded, and visitor parking controlled by the landlord or managing agent. Availability varies by building and suite size, so confirm the bay allocation, tandem arrangements, and whether extra staff parking can be licensed before signing. Street-facing offices may have limited frontage parking, making dedicated tenant bays and access-controlled parking key lease points.
Selby generally competes on central Johannesburg access and value. Across our listings, net asking rentals are R40 to R101 per m² (10th to 90th percentile), median R53, with gross around R55 per m² including rates and levies. Compared with nearby industrial nodes, it suits price-led industrial users that need workable warehousing, dispatch access and proximity to the CBD more than estate-style logistics environments. The trade-off is older urban stock and more variable yard, loading and office finishes, so tenants should judge each building on truck movement, power, parking and lease economics.
Selby competes as a practical city-fringe office location, while Rosebank, Sandton, and Braamfontein carry stronger corporate profile and amenity depth. Compared with the Johannesburg CBD, Selby is usually assessed on road access, parking, and functional space, with less weight placed on walk-in trade or high-street visibility. For tenants, the trade-off is clear: central Johannesburg access and value-oriented office rentals, without the positioning cost of the larger office nodes.
Tenants in Selby should expect industrial-oriented power supply to be available in many buildings, with three-phase capacity commonly relevant for warehousing, light manufacturing and workshop uses. The actual load varies materially by property, especially between older facilities and buildings with tenant-specific upgrades. Before committing, a business should verify the available amps, transformer capacity, metering arrangement and any scope for power upgrades with the landlord or municipality.
Selby’s walkable amenities are practical and office-oriented, with quick meals, convenience retail, fuel-station shops, ATMs, courier counters, and basic business services available along the main commercial streets. Access varies by block, so tenants should test the walk from the specific office entrance, especially if staff lunch options or daily errands are part of the leasing decision.
Selby generally suits businesses that need practical truck access into older industrial premises, with yard configurations varying by property from shared circulation areas to more usable dedicated yard space. Access is strongest where the site has clear gate widths, direct loading positions and fewer internal columns or tight turning points, especially for companies moving stock between Selby, Booysens and the M2. For larger vehicles, the key inspection items are turning radius, loading-door height, yard depth and whether trucks can enter and exit without reversing onto the street.
Yes. Selby is well served for office tenants that draw staff from central Johannesburg, the southern suburbs, and the inner-west, with minibus taxi routes and bus services running through the broader CBD and industrial fringe. The area also gives businesses practical road access via M1 and M2 connections, so public transport and staff vehicle access can be planned together when shortlisting office space.
Selby gives industrial tenants central Johannesburg access without moving into a peripheral logistics park, with quick reach to the M2 and M1 routes for deliveries across the inner city, south, west and east. The area suits workshop, storage, light manufacturing and distribution users that need functional industrial space, yard access and proximity to established supplier networks. Its main trade-off is an older, practical stock profile, which can be an advantage for businesses that prioritise access and operational flexibility over newer park-style accommodation.
Selby gives office and commercial tenants central Johannesburg access without the cost profile of the northern office nodes, making it practical for admin, service, finance, and support teams. The area works for businesses that need quick movement into the CBD, Fordsburg, Booysens, and the M1/M2 network, with straightforward road access for staff and clients. Its office stock is generally functional and value-led, so the advantage is less about image and more about cost control and reach.
Selby’s main drawbacks are older industrial buildings, tighter yards and more constrained loading than newer logistics parks, so it can be awkward for tenants needing high-clearance warehousing, large truck circulation or extensive yard operations. Access to M2 and M1 routes is useful, but local streets can feel tight for heavy vehicles, especially where deliveries compete with inner-city traffic. The area suits practical, cost-conscious operators, but businesses needing a modern corporate park environment, expansion land or a cleaner showroom profile may find Selby’s urban industrial fabric limiting.
The main drawbacks for office tenants are limited amenity depth and a more functional commercial setting, which can matter for client-facing teams that want cafés, hotels, and after-hours services within a short walk. Office stock needs building-by-building checking: parking allocation, backup power, lift condition, fibre, common-area upkeep, and signage rights can vary materially. Access is useful, but peak-period congestion around the main routes into and out of Selby can affect staff travel and office servicing.
Contact Anvil Property Smith and ask for the broker covering industrial space in Selby. We will confirm suitable options, arrange access with the landlord or managing agent, and walk you through the practical fit for your operation, from yard access to truck movement and lease terms.
Contact Anvil Property Smith’s office brokerage team to view office space in Selby. We can confirm current availability, arrange access to suitable buildings, and help compare office rentals against your fit-out, parking, and access requirements.
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