I was recently having a conversation with a friend about the surge in prices, not just for food, but everything in between (let’s not get started on petrol), writes Cape {town} Etc’s Lynn Cupido. Finding an affordable and comfortable spot to rent or buy in Cape Town is like looking for a needle in a haystack – impossible, and has left many millennials questioning their life choices.
Well, it looks like millennials in South Africa aren’t the only ones feeling the brunt of a frustrating housing market as young adults across the pond are dealing with the same shenanigans.
Surrounded by the rugged mountain ranges of Wales and nestled amongst flowing rivers and lush forests is what many are describing as the “stuff of fairy tales.” Unique properties are scattered throughout this area, boasting vivid blue doors and a stone exterior, homes that Snow White may have stumbled upon back in her day.
What makes these properties even more unique is the fact that there are no millionaires or holiday-makers in sight, with each home rented out by millennials who are paying peanuts for rent.
The incredible Brondanw Estate community is a shining example of what happens when rent doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg.
The revolutionary housing scheme was made possible by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, who wanted to switch things up and include his sprawling estate into a charitable trust during the 1970s that would help families in the area find affordable rent, as per BBC.
With a thriving community that cares about each other, youngsters roaming freely and young adults snagging three-bedroom houses for next to nothing, it comes as no surprise that there’s an incredibly long waiting list. However, there are a few prerequisites when applying for a property at the estate.
Applicants need to have some connection to the area, speak Welsh and have the means to contribute to the community.
28-year-old Jasper Atkinson was one of the lucky few who managed to snag a cottage on the estate.
“We’re in the middle of a mossy forest, we have a river running through the garden, snowdrops everywhere,” he said. Countless renters around the world are often faced with crushing debt, having to choose between consuming two-minute noodles for the rest of the month or paying their bills.
“I have lived absolutely on the edge of only just making it every month and getting into more and more debt.
“It drives down your mental health and you end up just working to exist.”
Along with easing the stress on his mental health, it has also managed to free up some extra cash in order to start something he’s been passionate about – an eco-building company.
There are a number of similar stories from residents and perhaps could serve as examples of what is possible if others were to follow suit. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind renting a three-bedroom house on the slopes of Devil’s Peak all for R6000/month – sign me up!
Also read:
Look! City Bowl estate breaks records as plots sell for R16.5 million each
Picture: Wales Online / Lara Usherwood