Important Rules to Know Before Buying Property in a Complex or Estate in South Africa
- The popularity of gated communities and estates has increased in South Africa due to the added security they provide to homeowners.
- A recent poll showed that out of 4,000 respondents, 1,500 live in a gated community, while 2,500 do not.
- The shift to remote working from home has further increased demand for homes in these communities.
- Property developers have responded to recent social and lifestyle changes by creating new estates and offering a wider range of property types.
- Prospective property buyers need to understand the major differences between buying a home in a suburb and a home in a gated estate run by a Homeowners’ Association (HOA).
Levies and rules differ for every estate and property buyers need to abide by the HOA’s constitution, rules, and decisions.
Prospective property buyers should ask for the following documents and read them before making an offer to purchase:
- The MOI or constitution of the HOA
- The appearance and conduct rules of the estate
- A list of the current HOA directors and their roles
- Minutes of HOA meetings for the past year
- The current HOA budget, year-to-date financial report, and levy collection record
The current HOA insurance policy
Property buyers should find out if the HOA has a reserve fund for long-term planned maintenance and emergencies.
If buying in a new estate, check the HOA’s architectural guidelines and building and appearance rules.
Some estates have minimum and maximum house size allowances and require homes to be built in a particular architectural style.
Property buyers in a new estate should establish who is responsible for security and repairing any damage to services during the construction phase.
