No affordable housing

The North Coast housing market is heavily slanted towards the upper income group, despite the fact that there are many people looking for decent, affordable housing.

According to two agencies that do rentals and sales for the lower end of the market, there is a dire shortage, and a shortage of properties that allow pets.

Shoreline estate agent Donald Manda and Harcourts Ballito rental agent Cornelia Dickenson said that the market is not keeping up with the population on the North Coast.

Manda believes that the areas of Tongaat and Maidstone should now be developed to fill this gap.

“These areas are completely underdeveloped and Ballito is overdeveloped, demanding a price too high for the average person, and the infrastructure is showing the strain. The water and electricity supply is under pressure, as are the roads, with incessant traffic jams.”

Manda said that many municipal employees have moved to this area, mostly in the fields of health and education who get a small living allowance, but cannot afford the high prices for either buying or letting.

He said that the airport has many staff based in Johannesburg who spend most of the week in KwaZuluNatal and are in the market for one bedroom or bachelor accommodation.

“Between R500 000 and R600 000 are the most popular and the most difficult priced properties to find,” said Manda

Dickenson agreed that properties under R600 000 have the biggest demand and smallest supply.

“Another major issue is the pet problem. There are a huge amount of people with a pet of some kind who are almost without options, regardless of the price that they can pay.”

Dickenson said that she already has over 200 people this month who are looking for a lower priced rental for under R3500 a month.

“King Shaka Airport has many staff based in Johannesburg, but spending most of the week in Kwa- Zulu-Natal who are either buying or renting one bedroom or bachelor accommodation.”

The consensus is that Durban and the North Coast in particular, is seen as safe, which is a big attraction to renters and buyers.