Neighbourhood 25 NOVEMBER 2018
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
Life’s a holiday Once just a small holiday town, Salt Rock now boasts more and more permanent residents with no reason to leave, page 2
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SUBURB FOCUS: SALT ROCK
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PROPERTY NEWS
25 NOVEMBER 2018
Neighbourhood
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Salt Rock This small seasonal holiday town is now home to many more permanent residents, who can now – thanks to the ever-growing infrastructure of the region – not only play, but live, work, educate their children, and hop on a local or international flight with ease as well WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER IMAGES: STEPHEN PILBROUGH & GOOGLE MAPS *Map not to scale
W
hen it comes to lifestyle, Salt Rock has always had a noticeable advantage. Among all the noise, it remained relatively quiet and naturally pretty, because those seeking bright lights and extensive retail therapy in massive malls, could nip along the road to Ballito, its bigger, bolder, brasher cousin. Then head home for some peace and quiet. Salt Rock is essentially a seaside village on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast – the Dolphin Coast – and for residents and holidaymakers alike, it’s famed for its glorious piece of coastline. Way back when it was home to King Shaka, head of the Zulu nation, the name Salt Rock originated from the tradition associated with his maidens, of collecting salt here for his home and as currency for traders. For the older generation, memories of Salt Rock either revolve around the old, much-loved Salt Rock Hotel and caravan park, or the coastal string of sizable beach cottages with access
from the bottom of their gardens, to the sand and sea. It was the finest family holiday imaginable, with retail limited to a couple of so-called tea rooms selling ice creams, buckets, spades and nets, and entertainment peaking at various kiddie-related events for which the hotel was famed. Today, the Salt Rock Hotel has a far more contemporary face and is now the Salt Rock Beach Resort, which includes the hotel, the caravan park, Salt Rock Palms timeshare, the country club, shopping centre and garage. This is a clear sign of the Salt Rock times, because this stretch is one of the fastest growing regions in the province and probably the country. Proximity to King Shaka International Airport (15 minutes) and Dube Tradeport has contributed to that growth.
Property With the North Coast developing at breakneck speed, it was inevitable that the little village would become a far bigger one. The New Salt Rock City – between Salt Rock and Ballito – is a multifaceted, mixed-use development set on 188ha of green hills and sea views, with 57ha of greenbelt, wetlands and conservation area. Residentially, there’ll be retirement at Mount Richmore Retirement Village, with 300 units, associated frail-care and relevant facilities, alongside the Mount Richmore Lifestyle Village. Further retirement options are on the drawing board. There’ll also be permanent rental, freehold and apartment-living options, and on the commercial side, rapid development of the New Salt Rock Shopping Centre retail and office parks is either complete or underway. There’s a wide spread of accommodation available in Salt Rock, with an equally good mix of price points. It’s still possible to find affordable cluster homes, whether rentals or purchases. At the high end, Dunkirk Estate is one of the more established residential developments, and is highly regarded.
PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING 1st Floor, Block H, Sable Square cnr Bosmansdam and Ratanga roads Milnerton, Cape Town
Schooling The greater Salt Rock area has had four new schools built in the last decade, so residents no longer need to travel far for quality education. The fifth, Reddam House Ballito, opens its doors in January next year. Salt Rock has a number of pre- and primary schools, from Montessori to the nearby Umhlali Primary School. For private schooling, Curro Mount Richmore and Curro Castle Mount Richmore (for three months to five years old) are independent schools which fall under the Curro banner. Conversations are now taking place around a tertiary arm, as well. In Ballito, Ashton International College is a great option, as is Crawford College North Coast at Tongaat, and Trinity House Palm Lakes Preparatory School, a school within the nearby Palm Lakes residential estate.
Explore Protected by shark nets – and patrolled by life guards – Salt Rock beach is not only for swimmers and sunbathers. It’s a hot spot for surfing, bodyboarding, hydrofoiling and stand-up paddling. The large tidal pool, Granny’s Pool, is ideal for the very young and more mature, as it’s calm and shallow. Bottlenose dolphins are often sighted from the beach, hence the name Dolphin Coast. For those who prefer to scratch below the surface, the Salt Rock Beach reefs are a favourite for both snorkelers and scuba divers. Fishermen, too, enjoy good catches of fish drawn to the reef. Holla Trails is a favourite venue for mountain bikers, trail runners, even walkers. Forty four farmers have given access to their land for the trails, and participants need a permit – the operation is run from the Holla Trails Shop.
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25 NOVEMBER 2018
Neighbourhood
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PROPERTY NEWS
EAT: • Sage Cafe and Deli: light meals • Bistro 98 at Dunkirk Estate: stylish food in a beautiful setting • Litchi Orchard Market: focus on local, seasonal, sustainable food products (day market: second Saturday of the month; night market: last Friday of the month)
STAY: • • • •
Petite Provence boutique B&B Seascape Guest Villa Canelands Beach Club & Spa Salt Rock Manor
DO:
We moved here from Joburg three years ago when our children moved north out of Durban City. It’s like being on holiday permanently… only with every possible amenity within a 10-minute drive. KEN WADE, RESIDENT
• Visit Flag Farm Animal Farm, a sanctuary for 1,000 largely rescued animals. • Play golf at Prince’s Grant; Simbithi Country Club, Zimbali Country Club, Umhlali Country Club; and Maidstone Golf Club. • Take the walking trail (5km) from Ballito North to Salt Rock. • Go to Holla for hiking and cycling trails. • Browse around at the Sugar Rush Market every Saturday. • Enjoy deep-sea fishing.
For sale
For rent
Median asking price:
Median asking price:
R4,35m
R15,000
Monthly bond repayments
For a typical property (four-bedroom house)
For a typical property in this area
R2,879m
R2,265m
R4,55m
In a complex
For an apartment
For a house
You’ll pay
R41,978
For a typical property (three-bedroom house)
R13,500
R10,000
R17,000
In a complex
For an apartment
For a house
per month
Property type:
74% house
Based on
21%
apartment
5%
complex
Property type:
46% house
R4,35m
29%
median asking price
over a period of 20 years at 10% prime
apartment
25% complex
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PROPERTY NEWS
25 NOVEMBER 2018
Neighbourhood
My business R neighbourhood
achel Leigh Methley and her partner, Rickey Naidoo, established an interior design company, Rachel Leigh Interiors, to offer clients a cost-effective way to modernise their homes, without breaking the bank.
The idea of converting old furniture or household items into new, more modern pieces is not a recent concept. The business of ‘upcycling’ has become an interior design trend. WORDS: TIVANIA MOODLEY IMAGES: SUPPLIED
balcony half the way around serves as a perfect space to paint and upcycle furniture. Q: Who are your neighbours? A: There are a hair salon, fishing shop, pub and computer store.
Q: How did your business start? A: I was unemployed and short on rent during a difficult time. Having studied interior decorating my only option was to paint technique my late grandmother’s heirloom, a ball-and-claw display cabinet, and sell it to survive financially. To my partner’s amazement, the unit was sold within three days, so he invested whatever savings he had into the opening of my business as he saw the potential.
Q: What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area? A: The price is extremely affordable, which was the main attraction for me.
Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop? A: We operate from the Pineville Junction in Pinetown which is great because we live in this area. It’s perfectly situated right in the middle of all our clients – from Hillcrest to Salt Rock.
Q: Do you have any expansion plans? A: I hope to provide a service of complete home improvement as I have a vested interest with my partner now on board.
Q: How did you find your premises? A: I upcycled some furniture for my cousin who opened a coffee shop in Pineville Junction and from the day I saw the coffee shop, I knew that this exact shop will be my premises one day. When the opportunity arose to take over the lease, I jumped at it.
Q: How many people go through your store each day? A: During the week I see between three and five clients as I work by appointment. I’m open on Saturday mornings from 9am until 12pm where I have a steady flow of clients.
Q: Do you operate online as well? A: I have an active Facebook page for now. Q: What’s your most popular item? A: Definitely the paintwork on kitchens. I repaint kitchens, saving clients time and money. My wallpapers are also popular.
SEE FOR YOURSELF: Q: Why are they ideally suited to your business? A: The space is ideal for all my wallpaper and fabric samples, as well as decor items to sell. The beautiful
Rachel Leigh Interiors 084 895 7068 Facebook: @rachelleighinteriors
20964
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PROPERTY NEWS
18 NOVEMBER 2018
Be pool savvy
Neighbourhood
It’s that hot, holiday time of the year and swimming pool safety measures should be front of mind WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
T
he South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is about to tighten the current regulations governing the safe operation of swimming pools even further, says Marvin Odendaal, Phatshoane Henney Attorneys. Some municipalities have, of course, additional, more stringent bylaws, and it’s the residents’ responsibility to comply with those.
Existing regulations
According to Odendaal current regulations include: • A 1,2m (measured from ground level) wall or fence and any such gate therein. It must not contain an opening that allows a 100mm diameter ball to pass through it. This fence must be provided by the owner of the site with the swimming pool, so no person can have access to it from any street, public place or adjoining site, other than: - through a self-latching gate which can be locked. - through a building where such building forms part of such a wall or fence. • A wall or fence shall be provided in any interconnected complex which contains a swimming pool or bath to ensure no person can have access to such from any street, public place or anywhere within the complex other than through a self-closing, self-latching gate with provision for locking in such wall or fence.
Direct Durban-to-London flight to attract foreign investors
B
ritish Airways has recently introduced the first and only non-stop Durban to Europe link. This direct leg will pave the way to showcase not only South Africa, but KwaZulu-Natal, as a place for foreign investors. On an international scale, and with Brexit looming, UK investors will be looking further ashore for investment opportunities. Brexit will bring more opportunity and bring South Africa’s long-standing trade relationship with the UK into focus (exports to the value of R46bn to the UK annually), painting the country as an attractive investment option. Furthermore, the £/ ZAR exchange rate will see some fluctuation, but the
pound will still remain unequivocally strong against the rand, giving foreign buyers greater purchasing power. The recent musings of British prime minister Theresa May, have intimated that the UK will be the biggest direct foreign investor to South Africa, and the IMF predicts that 90% of growth globally will come from outside of the European Union. On a smaller scale, KwaZulu-Natal currently outranks both Gauteng and Cape Town, firstly by way of capital growth. Durban and KZN have led the property price charge and have seen an average of 334% growth between 2010 and 2017. More interestingly, Durban has been ranked as one of the top50 cities for capital growth globally, sitting in 26th position, outranking
Birmingham and Manchester (UK), Cape Town and Miami (USA). Durban is an attractive option for foreigners looking to invest in property. With Mercer’s Quality of Living study positioning Durban as South Africa’s top city for a variety of reasons. South Africans living in Durban can attest to this, and if anything, the general cost of living in Durban is lower in comparison to other major cities like Cape Town and Joburg. The lower cost of living is owed in part to things like proximity, urban planning and geography. KZN’s North Coast ticks all the boxes with several other factors owing to the success of this area as a high-growth node.
• The constructional requirements of any steel fence or gate must comply with the requirements in SANS 1390.
Proposed additional legislation
In terms of the latest standards, additional measures such as safety nets or covers are required. “They must be child-proof, professionally installed (no DIY) and be able to safely carry the weight of an adult. A cover is disqualified if it allows rainwater to pool for more than five minutes, or if a child can unfasten it. It must require keys, a combination lock or ‘special tools, devices, or inaccessible locations’ to remove. For larger swimming pools, a net or cover must have a carrying weight of at least 220kg to ‘permit a rescue’ operation while holding up one child and two adults. For smaller pools – less than 2,4m at its widest point – the weight requirement is 125kg, for one adult and child,” Odendaal elaborates. “Other changes include a requirement for self-closing gates in fences or walls around swimming pools, and a new obligation on renters or other non-owners to keep any unsafe pools completely empty. It’s the responsibility of the pool owner to ensure it has both a fence or wall and a net or cover – but any occupier of a property ‘shall not allow water in an unprotected swimming pool’. Occupiers are also responsible for ensuring that some sort of pole – brush
or a leaf scoop – is available near any pool ‘to assist a distressed person in the water’, and to regularly inspect a pool enclosure for damage,” he says. “The standard requires walls or fences to be at least 1,2m high, to be sunk into the ground at least 50cm deep, to be very difficult for children to climb, and with gates difficult for children to open.”
What constitutes negligence?
Part D4 of the National Building Regulations requires that owners ensure controlled access to their swimming pools. “Any owner who fails to comply with this, is guilty of an offence,” continues Odendaal. “Additionally, a homeowner can also be sued for negligence should someone drown in their pool, depending on whether negligence was present. A pool that doesn’t meet the required safety standards or where those measures are not effective, can provide the necessary grounds for showing negligence on the part of the owner. “It’s important that pool owners ensure that the safety measures in place are adhered to. Negligence can still exist where reasonable efforts are not taken to ensure that the safety measures are effective, and you, as the owner, are responsible for making sure no unfortunate incident happens at your pool,” he concludes.
The value of estate agents Re/max Tricolor, operating in Westville and Pinetown, has made a commitment to superior service with the recent completion of the Peak Producers training programme. Offering this 12-week educational training course is Re/max Tricolor’s latest endeavour to fulfil their commitment to developing the most highly skilled team of professionals who deliver the best service to the community they support. This comes at a time when the role of the real-estate agent is being underplayed by various fixed, lowcommission online real-estate agencies. “Technological innovation doesn’t kill industries. Poor service and a lack of response to the changing needs of clients does. That’s why Re/max of Southern Africa has purchased the exclusive rights to the Peak Producers training course. We know that what sets Re/max apart is our commitment to developing clients for life. One of the ways we can help our network to remain true to this virtue, is through the provision of world-renowned training programmes,” says Adrian Goslett, regional director and CEO, Re/max of Southern Africa. Says broker/owner of Re/max Tricolor Gail Compton, “We feel that the best way to encourage exceptional levels of service in our local communities is to allow our agents to be in control of their own real-estate career. That’s why we choose to facilitate this training programme at our fully-equipped
training room at our Westville office. Developed by industry experts Brian Buffini and Joe Niego of Buffini & Company (the largest training and coaching company in North America), the course helps agents hone the skills required to become the CEO, COO and CFO of their real-estate practices. The course teaches them how to provide exceptional customer service that is personalised to their clients’ needs and communication styles,” she says. Students also learn to professionally navigate price reductions, negotiate at an advanced level, effectively manage their time, earn a consistent income, and build a predictable business. So, when you choose to work with a Re/max Tricolor agent, you can be assured that you’re working with a knowledgeable industry expert and professional who cares about you and has a vested interest in helping you achieve your real-estate goals.” The stakes of a real-estate transaction are a lot higher than those involved in choosing to shop at a less expensive grocery outlet. While shopping at a discount grocer might land you with a bag of slightly less crispy apples, selling a property through a discount portal might cost you a lower selling price and longer market time. The question sellers should ask themselves is whether they want to partner with a peak producing real-estate professional that delivers exceptional, personalised service, or with a standardised platform with automated replies.
HELLO ORANJEZICHT
WHERE YOUR WORLD IS JUST DOWN THE ROAD
From R1.95 million
incl. VAT (no transfer duty)
Urban living in heritage-rich Oranjezicht, Cape Town. Key Features: • Panoramic Table Mountain views • Walking distance to Kloof Street restaurants • 21 exclusive apartments • Communal braai and pool deck • Floor-to-ceiling glazing • 2 penthouses with private roof decks
RES IDENTI AL
www.TheAster.CapeTown David - 072 385 4386 Catherine - 074 384 3127 Office - 021 425 8586
CONSCIOUS LIVING
LIVE IN A RESORT
THE HOUGHTON IS NOT SO MUCH AN ADDRESS AS A LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE. Y O U W I L L N E V E R H AV E T O L E AV E H O M E . H E A LT H S PA
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A D E L I T H AT O F F E R S H O M E D E L I V E R Y
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ONLY A FEW APARTMENTS ARE LEFT – DON’T MISS OUT
M1
HOUGHTON GOLF CLUB
2ND A VE
SALON
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VA R I O U S D I N I N G O P T I O N S
M E E T I N G R O O M S A N D B U S I N E S S FA C I L I T I E S
The Houghton, ranked by New World Wealth as one of the top 10 luxury apartment complexes in South Africa, overlooks a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and is next door to the five-star The Houghton Hotel. Every apartment features en-suite bathrooms, tailor-made joinery, integrated kitchens and climate control.
OSBORN RD
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Luxury apartment 8555, is available daily for viewings. WARREN BECKER 082 302 3004 | warren@thehoughton.com ASHLEIGH SMITH 073 220 7357 | ashleigh@thehoughton.com Houghton on 12th, 53 Second Ave, Houghton | Show apartment 8555