Stellenbosch is arguably the Western Cape’s most popular student town, famous not only for its excellent university, but its vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere, youth-friendly lifestyle, and exquisite natural surrounds. With over 25 000 scholars flocking to the area every year to attend Stellenbosch University, it’s no surprise that student accommodation has become a major influencing factor in the area’s property market.
Johan Hugo, the Rawson Property Group’s franchisee for Stellenbosch. “Only about a third of Stellenbosch students live in the university’s residences, of which there are 24 in total. Most prefer the freedom and independence of private accommodation, whether that’s an apartment, a student house, or a granny flat attached to an established home.”
“Areas within walking distance of campus tend to be the most popular for students,” Hugo continues, “because parking on campus is always quite scarce, so students prefer to avoid taking their cars to class. This trend has had quite an effect on property prices,” he points out, “and things get a lot pricier the closer to campus you get.”
Apart from convenient access to the university, Hugo has also noticed a desire for security having a big effect on students’ and parents’ accommodation choices. “Ironically, Stellenbosch has one of the lowest crime rates in the country,” he notes, “but for students who are often living away from home for the very first time, feeling secure is of the utmost importance. This makes apartments quite popular, especially with younger students, but well-secured granny flats and houses also do very well. Thankfully, most of the roads leading to campus are patrolled by campus security, so getting to and from class is not a concern.”
According to Hugo, rentals in the area range from R2500 to R7000 per room, per month – a pretty hefty expense for any parent to contemplate. As such, he highly recommends parents consider buying rather than renting, and ideally looking at the investment over a longer term than just the duration of their child’s education.
“You can buy a really nice two-bedroomed apartment close to Stellenbosch University campus for between R1 million to 1.5 million,” he explains. “Bond repayments on that would be somewhere between R9200 – R14 000, which could be offset by renting out the second bedroom to a friend of your child. Your annual return on investment is likely to be around 6% – the current average – and when your child graduates you can continue to rent the property for additional income. Tenants are easy to come by, especially if you’re close to campus, so you could turn your child’s accommodation into a valuable long-term investment, rather than a pure expense.”
Of course, many people are wary of renting property to students, and tales of student antics in rented properties are often passed around like fireside horror stories. Hugo, however, believes that this shouldn’t be a concern as long as landlords select a responsible and professional rental agent. “If things are properly run and the right measures put in place from the start, student tenants are no more difficult or risky than any other,” he says. “It’s really just a matter of keeping a proper eye on things.”
To find out more about student accommodation in Stellenbosch, whether you’re looking to rent or make an investment purchase, contact the Rawson Property Group’s Stellenbosch franchise. Rawson agents and franchisees are always happy to share their advice and insights on their neighbourhoods, and give you the inside scoop on property opportunities in the area.
Visit www.rawson.co.za for more information.
