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The biggest building operation on the estate is the site of Kingswood’s new Community Centre/Clubhouse, but dozens of other projects took place during the year – read on for some stats and reminders of rules during the summer holidays.
’Tis the season to be merry, and even builders need a break. Residents of Kingswood Golf Estate would have noticed that construction operations are grinding to a halt, with the official end date for building activities being Friday 13 December.
But there’s nothing unlucky about this day; in fact, residents and holiday visitors will from that Friday onwards experience less commercial traffic, clamour, and the general bustle associated with the construction of new homes. A summary of building operations and transfers over the past year was provided by Lize van Heerden, who busies herself with calculating levies and related processes. ‘There are currently 35 building sites on Kingswood Golf Estate, including the clubhouse site.
‘A total of 36 completion certificates have been issued – but take note that this number includes alterations and additions as well as new builds. Finally, 66 resale transfers took place during the year,’ says Lize.
Emergency work only!
According to Daniel de Wet – in charge of keeping an eye on these matters from his HOA office, and as chief of the Kingswood Management Services team – most builders and their crews are taking a month-long break from 13 December to 13 January 2025.
‘If pressing work is required earlier in the new year, Kingswood HOA are allowing contractors to commence on 6 January, but most builders only take up their tools again on the 13th – a full month after the deadline for contractors to secure their sites and ensure that no one’s safety is compromised in the period of inactivity.’
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He explains that contractors are required to cordon off all building sites, and that it’s a case of no access at all, to anyone. Dan adds that the only instance in which builders or construction workers will be allowed on the estate over the next month is in case of emergency work required. This may include emergencies such as severe electrical problems or issues relating to water supply, such as a burst pipe that could cause havoc both in terms of damage to homes’ interiors and water bills. Report any such emergencies to Masadi at the management office on the ground floor of the gatehouse.
General best practice and seasonal considerations
There’s a constant flow of alterations to Kingswood homes during the year, and residents have access to guidelines when it comes to the maintenance of existing homes, such as the height of exterior walls, preferred material for roofs, and colour schemes for painting. To protect the look and thus the Kingswood brand for the benefit of all owners and investors, Dan says it’s easy enough to follow the general architectural pointers provided, and to keep your property neat and clean on a daily basis.
‘If everyone sticks to these guidelines from the construction process onwards, all owners and investors reap the benefits. Working together to keep the estate looking pristine increases the value of all properties and the reputation of Kingswood in general. ‘What you do in your garden is up to each individual owner, but before effecting any work on verges, for instance, please consult with the HOA first. Always take your neighbours into consideration – when it comes to alterations of any kind, communication is key.’
Be merry, be nice
Kingswood CEO Willem Jacobs confirmed the above-mentioned guidelines and is confident that residents and their guests can look forward to a memorable festive season at Kingswood.
‘Please inform your Christmas visitors of rules that apply throughout the year, and that may be even more crucial in the context of added feet on the estate during the summer holidays,’ he says. Among these are the basics: Don’t walk on the golf course if you’re not playing; do keep your dogs on leashes; don’t play loud music until all hours of the night. ‘Apart from protecting the Kingswood brand for the benefit of all investors, it’s important that everyone is allowed to optimally enjoy all that Kingswood has to offer.’
Email Daniel de Wet at daniel@kingswood.co.za with queries on building or alterations.
