Demolish decaying, abandoned homes for new life in neighbourhoods

AN INCREASING number of decaying and derelict homes is being brought to the attention of the City of Cape Town and currently almost 1 300 buildings throughout Cape Town’s suburbs could potentially be demolished.

The City of Cape Town is in the process of arranging the first such demolition process of a once-beautiful home in Somerset West that has been left to ruin and degradation.

However, it has taken a lengthy legal process to get to that point, says mayoral committee member for safety and security and social services, JP Smith.

“Unfortunately, given the prohibitive costs and many legal obstacles, we are not in a position to simply demolish badly deteriorated problem buildings on a whim. (However) we are also set to start a review process of the current problem building by-law to give law enforcement greater powers to deal with errant property owners.”

Smith says problem build- ings – of which 1 292 are currently being investigated – not only present a unique set of challenges for the city, but also the neighbours, and are the cause of “much concern and deliberation”.

Although such buildings exist throughout the Cape Town metropole, some of the most problematic areas include Bellville, Parow, Somerset West, and Wynberg.

“These buildings drag down the overall tone of a neighbourhood and are often associated with all manners of social ills, which no one wants in their neighbourhood. Getting owners to do the right thing is a time-consuming and frustrating process, but we have to operate within the boundaries of the law.”

The issue of decaying and abandoned homes is being experienced throughout the country, including other main cities like Johannesburg and Durban. In many cases, abandoned homes are being hijacked by illegal tenants and often used as brothels, drug dens or bases from which to commit crimes.

Other challenges include environmental and health hazards such as filth and rodents stemming from unsanitary conditions as a result of no water or electricity.

Generally, Smith says, owners of such properties have died or are absent, possibly living elsewhere in the country or overseas.

Billy Rautenbach, sales director at Seeff Atlantic seaboard and city bowl, says in addition to the city being alerted to increasing numbers of such buildings, and being able to take action, the establishment of City Improvement Districts is helping to upgrade run-down areas.

“This started with the Cape Town CBD which is now a success story being emulated by other inner cities. It has resulted in the CBD – and city bowl by extension – becoming so sought-after that it has spurred further development.

“It is all about business and communities working together to look after their neighbourhoods. All of these neighbour- hoods were almost no-go areas about 15 years ago, but now they rank as some of the best performing markets in the country.”

Yet while the situation is looking up, problematic homes and affected areas do impact on properties for sale around them, says Adrian Goslett, regional director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.

Although the home for sale could be in pristine condition, the surrounding neighbourhood has an influence on how it is valued by potential buyers.

“The neighbourhood in which the home is situated can either push up the value of the home or bring it down.

“A rundown area could result in homeowners having to drop their price in order to sell.

“Where possible, homeowners should form or join a homeowners’ association to ensure that the community they live in is properly taken care of.

Anyone wishing to alert the city to a potential problem building should call 0860 103 089.

This Somerset West home, once a pretty property, has been left to decay and stands to be demolished.