A sensitive issue that is relevant to many sectional complexes and gated communities is the fact that stringent pet policies are affecting and limiting the choices of many families when choosing where to invest and live.
Demand for pet-friendly accommodation is steadily growing, but choices are limited. There is a massive market, and need, for properties that are more pet-friendly across both the purchase and rental markets.
The close quarter’s densification in urban dwellings has meant that rules and regulations were seen as essential to maintain “order”. However there are more than 10 million pets in South Africa, most owned by people who adore them, and they also form an essential part of many people’s lives
The “Pet Factor” is gaining momentum worldwide and many great cities have pet friendly apartments. There has been a major shift in the past decade or two to apartments being chosen by owner-occupiers, baby boomers and empty-nesters and many of those keep, or want to keep, pets.
People desire community, and want to walk dogs in secure open spaces and meet their neighbours, with their pets breaking the ice. The result has been that the progressive approach world-wide is to build pet-friendly apartments and retirement villages.
One development, Pyrmont Point in Sydney Australia, executive director Hugh Martin has openly stated that being pet friendly adds to the appeal, convinces people to buy and increases the value of apartments when the time comes for resale. Interestingly, statistics show that Australian households have the highest incidence of pet ownership per household, in the world.
In developments in South Africa, it is the Trustees of Body Corporates or Estate Management Associations who establish the schedule of conduct rules of the estate or complex. Understandably, rules not permitting pets are made for numerous reasons.
Therefore, before committing to buy or rent anywhere, read and understand an estate or complex’s schedule of conduct rules. It is extremely difficult, and sometimes not possible, to get them changed afterwards.
Hopefully, the mind shift that is happening worldwide will soon move to South Africa. Those developers that do embrace this will reap the rewards as more flexibility towards pets is going to be needed in the property marketplace.
There are several sectional title developments and estates that do allow pets in the Ballito area, so speak to a reputable agent about these options as well as several new pet friendly options that are to be released onto the market soon.
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