What the experts say about buying your own piece of heritage
How do you go about buying a heritage, or historic house and what are the setbacks? For a start, you marry them, for better or for worse, says Pam Golding Grahamstown agent Kim Webber.
“They are charming, loaded with character, well insulated for heat and noise and generally have large rooms and high ceilings,” she says.
“They are a full-time job and require load of maintenance and TLC. But people love them,” says Webber.
What will you pay here in Grahamstown?
“Anywhere from R11 million to R800 000 depending on size and location,” she says.
Heritage homes are found all over Grahamstown, with the more exclusive properties being found in Westhill and Oatlands. Settler cottages can be found around Artificer’s Square and of course High Street. Beautiful examples of early architecture can be seen at Rhodes University, Kingswood College, DSG and SAC campuses, among others.
Among the properties on sale at the moment is High Corner Guest house at 122 High Street, once the home of Professor Guy Butler, poet, academic and writer, and famously restored by him.
High Corner could be said to be quintessentially a Grahamstown cottage and property. Building began in 1814 when it was known as the Messenger's Cottage and it was completed in 1819.
At that stage it was the home of district surgeon Dr John Atherstone.
It was then bought by a prominent settler, Thomas Stubbs, who ran a horse-drawn omnibus business from there. Stubbs was also the Commander of the Stubbs Mounted Rangers. In the third volume of his autobiography, A Local Habitation, Butler writes about the property when it was a gentlemen’s club and during which time the double-storey section was built.
It had billiards, a card room, a reading room and all the refinements a gentleman of means required in the 18th Century.
In 1872 High Corner was used as a hotel and for about 50 years after that, it was not permanently occupied but used for anything from ladies’ high teas to musical soirees.
Heritage homes currently for sale can be found across the City, including in historic Cross Street.
Pros and cons
Tony Clarke, managing director of the Rawson Property Group, has advice to give on whether or not to buy heritage property:
“There’s nothing quite like the romance, charm and grace of a heritage property, but many people are wary of buying into the historic market for a variety of reasons.
“For some, it’s the expectation of high prices and excessive maintenance that puts them off; for others, it’s the seemingly endless rules and regulations governing their preservation and care.
“There are a lot of benefits to owning a heritage property,” Clarke says.
“The pride and prestige that comes from owning something truly one-of-a-kind; of living in, and taking care of a real piece of our country’s past – and some of them are actually quite down-to-earth and practical.”
He goes on to explain that many heritage properties in South Africa occupy prime locations on larger-than-normal, well-established grounds.
Of course, not all heritage properties are grand manor houses previously owned by the colonial elite, and South Africa is dotted with suburbs boasting collections of characterful – but comparatively affordable – historic homes. When buying into one of these suburbs, it’s important to be aware of the heritage status of the whole area, as well as the status of your own home, especially if you intend to do maintenance works or any kind of renovation, he says.
Protected
“Heritage properties are protected by law at national, provincial and local levels, and you’ll need to check with your municipality to get the specific details applicable to your exact property,” says Clarke. “Broadly speaking, however, there are three tiers of rules that apply to anyone who owns a heritage property, or a property in a heritage area.”
As Clarke explains it, the entire purpose of the heritage regulations is to preserve buildings of historic importance for future generations. That means preventing you from doing the required maintenance and improvements to keep your property in good repair is not in the best interests of anyone involved. “As long as you aren’t trying to make changes that will detract from the historical importance of your property or the properties around you, you shouldn’t have trouble getting the necessary approvals,” says Clarke.
“I always advise buyers to have a professional inspection done before making any property purchase, and that advice is twice as valid for historic homes."
To the right owner, a heritage home can be a unique treasure to be cherished not only for its cultural importance, but also its unique character, charm and style.
If you’re considering buying a heritage home, however, it’s important to be fully aware of the potential restrictions that come with the responsibility of protecting a piece of our country’s past.
To find out more about South African National Heritage legislation, visit www.nhc. org.za, or contact your Provincial Heritage Authority or City Heritage Department for more details on local regulations.