FINDING
will keep intruders out and keep the possibilities of
burglary or home invasion very low.
With a self-contained neighbourhood there is not
likely to be problems with vandalism, break-ins and
strangers lurking around the house or anxiety about
walking the streets after dark. This is an ideal living
situation for those who live alone or who would
otherwise be vulnerable to criminal activities in a
typical housing situation.
Property Value
The houses built within a gated community are
often on the upper end in regards to design, beauty,
quality and price. Being located within a community,
houses have a better chance of gaining property value
and tend to be steady during market f luctuations,
according to the Barcelona Field Studies Centre.
Because of these factors, houses in a gated community
are thought to be better investments than some
other types of housing, giving gated communities a
significant advantage.
Children’s Play
Families with children often look at the features of a
new home or neighbourhood with consideration for
their children. They want a place where the kids can
enjoy quality time in and out of the house, and they
want them to have safe streets to walk. This is a very
significant advantage of living in a gated community.
The children can play in the neighbourhood with little
concern over crime and are far less likely to be injured
by traffic in the surrounding streets because access is
limited.
appearances of houses and lawns and certain
behaviours of those who live in the neighbourhood.
While these rules can help add to the property values
of homes, they can also restrict residents’ freedoms
because they may not be able to put certain items on
their lawns such as flags or signs.
Levies
Residents often have to pay a lev y to their
homeowners’ associations to pay for amenities and
ground maintenance in gated communities. These
homeowners associations can be governed either by
the developer or the residents, depending on who
owns the most land in the areas.
Security
While gated communities do offer a modicum of
protection, they are not crime free and often have
the problem of assisted crime. People working
in the community can let in strangers or actively
help criminals gain entry into your home. Gated
communities are not impervious to crime, and
people living in them sometimes relax their security
standards, making their homes easier targets.
The disadvantages?
Is sectional title better for you?
Usually, buying a house or a flat in a complex seems to
be more affordable than buying a freestanding house.
When you buy a section of a development, you get
access to an undivided share of the common property
(the communal green areas, parking, etc.) and all the
owners collectively own everything that is not part
of a specific section. You also get many benefits such
as added security, the management of the property
is shared and sometimes there is a gymnasium or a
swimming pool in the complex.
Guidelines
Those who live in gated communities such as
subdiv isions may move into homes in these
areas because they are governed by homeowners’
associations and written covenants guide the
in an area where you might not be able to afford a
freestanding home, said Michael Bauer general
manager of IHFM. If being part of a specif ic
community is necessary, ie the schools, university
26
Residential Handbook 2013
Sectional title could be a way of owning a property
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