Housing in Southern Africa May 2015

Housing

Well priced afford

W ith a backlog of more than two million units, housing remains one of the key is- sues on the country’s agenda. In its ef- forts to address the growing problem, government has over the past few years consistently increased budgets to accelerate housing delivery so that it can successfully house its increas- ing population and stop the mush- rooming of informal settlements. The aim is simple - to transform the housing landscape over the next three to five years. Government has allocated a sizeable housing budget and the private sector is sitting up and taking notice. “Multi-million rand projects have multiplied rapidly in recent years and there is a growing demand in the middle income market,” says Anton vanVuuren, ManagingDirector of MDV Developments, an affordable housing developer. The company has delivered thou- sands of affordable homes and ac- cording to Van Vuuren “It is, however, all about quality. An impressive range of stands and building packages makes buying a house an exciting experience for a customer. In the affordable sector that house has

With affordable housing set to grow considerably over the next few years, developers are going to be challenged to deliver quality houses quickly and cost effectively.

to stand the test of time. We don’t build houses, we build homes that do exactly that.” With several projects in the pipe- line, Van Vuuren andhis teamcareful- ly select developments. “Our homes are situated in or close to established areas with proper infrastructure and the all-inclusive product offer- ing ranges between R250 000 and R600 000.” It is not an easy sector to service and there is an increasing call on companies to deliver quickly due to the backlog and demand. “Affordable housing is on a growth spurt and with demand exceeding supply, developers are having to deliver houses at a fast pace and at an affordable price.” It’s not impossible and can be done, but the one thing says Van Vuuren, MDV will not compromise on is quality. “As a company we believe in leav- ing a legacy of improving people’s

lives which is the ultimate goal every time we take on a development,” he says. Van Vuuren and Financial Director Rory McGuirk are firm believers that adding extra value to their develop- ments without necessarily passing the cost on to the end-user is what differentiates the company. And they are slowly but surely gaining ground. MDV has partnered and contrib- uted to the Klarinet project in Em- alahleni in Mpumalanga. The project received the Govan Mbeki Human Settlements Award for the Best Na- tional Priority Project for 2012 and 2013. MDV has constructed and de- livered 300 affordable houses in the Klarinet development with a further 300 units currently on offer. “The Klarinet development truly represents what we as a company stand for and want to achieve in the affordable housing sector,” says Van Vuuren.

May 2015