Is living in a flat suited to your needs?

Is living in a flat suited to your needs?

Are you looking for a place to stay and wondering whether living in a flat is right for you in South Africa? You’re not alone; many people struggle with this question. But the answer depends on several factors, two of which are the most important.

The first one is your affordability, and that is followed by your needs. To figure this out, you have to consider the pros and cons of living in a block of flats. Weigh these against each other, and you might be surprised to learn that living in a flat is exactly what you need and can comfortably afford.

Below, we’ve put together the pros and cons of living in a flat for you to consider as you try to make a decision about where to live.

The pros of living in a flat

Living in a flat is a popular choice for many South Africans, and this is due to the following reasons:

Cost-effective

Unlike buying a house and paying a monthly bond, renting is an affordable solution for many working-class South Africans. The Johannesburg Housing Company (JHC) offers affordable flats in Johannesburg, specifically for people who are low to middle-income earners in search of affordable accommodation.

Amenities

Most blocks of flats are in close proximity to public transportation, work offices, schools, police stations, medical centres, shopping malls and other important amenities. This means that your commute time to these will be shortened, and accessibility will not be an issue. For example, JHC properties are located in the inner city of Johannesburg and surrounding areas.

Safety

Flats are typically located in good neighbourhoods and have gated security systems that ensure safety for tenants. There are also security guards that keep an eye on the property and those that come into the property. Living in close proximity to your neighbours can be beneficial in circumstances of emergencies as they may be able to help you quicker.

Easy maintenance

When you sign a lease for a flat, you’ll find a section explaining what type of maintenance is your responsibility and which is the responsibility of the landlord. Typically, the larger maintenance costs rest on the landlord, such as repainting. This saves you money as you get to focus on small maintenance, such as replacing a broken light bulb.

Short-term commitment

If you haven’t decided where you want to live for a long period, or if you still need time to save up to afford your own house, living in a flat is a short-term commitment that gives you plenty of time to think hard about long-term commitments. The lease agreements can go from a year to two years, which gives you flexibility.

Strong community bond

Living in close proximity to neighbours offers many opportunities to create close friendships and build a family-like community. At JHC, this is something we care about because to us, tenants are more than people who live in our properties. We have a Makhulong A Matala team that focuses on social cohesion and community integration. The team is responsible for various activities that contribute value to the lives of our tenants and assist in cultivating happy tenants who are able to create strong bonds with each other.

The cons of living in a flat

Rules

All properties have their own rules and regulations that tenants must adhere to. While rules are necessary to ensure a well-run property, in some cases, they can be too restrictive. For example, personalising your flat may not be as flexible as you may like it to be.

Privacy and noise

Privacy and noise can be difficult factors to navigate because there are personality clashes. For example, some people may not mind children playing outside their door, but some may not like this. Also, you may overhear your neighbours or vice versa, which might not be an ideal situation for you.

Living space and accessibility

Depending on your affordability, you might not be able to rent a flat of the size you envision. Plus, living in a block of flats means that you’re sharing space with other people. So, you might not always have access to things like the clothing line when you need to.

Final thoughts

Deciding whether living in a flat is suited to your needs is all about weighing the pros and cons to find out which leans more towards your needs. That way, you’ll be able to make an informed decision you’ll ultimately be happy with. Once you decide that living in a flat is a good option for you, connect with us whenever you’re ready. We have flats to rent in cosmo city, flats in Newtown and flats in other inner-city areas.