Who’s To Blame For High Erf Prices

GENERAL perception has it that developers are the culprits for high prices and unreasonable speculation of residential land.

The Windhoek Municipality is largely to blame for non-delivery of erven, thus causing short supply hence unreasonable prices. But who within the municipality is to blame for the short supply? Ultimately the city fathers as the “Board of Directors” of Windhoek incorporated, and also specific departments within the municipality like town planning, property and economic development departments are to be blamed for short sightedness and inefficiency.Why do applications to purchase land by developers take up to ten months for initial investigation by the municipality? Why has no density and use rezoning been supported in many suburbs in Windhoek, e.g.from 1:900 to 1:500? There are a number of older properties that simply lose their value because they become liabilities instead of investments because of zoning stipulations.Higher density and use zonings will bring about unlocking of investment value in these properties, better utilization of infrastructure, e.g.roads, sewer, water and social services like schools and sports fields etc, that is up to now underutilized.If any of the executives in the relevant departments worked for a private company they would have been fired and like many people without houses be on the streets.Shareholders would have also replaced the Board of Directors by now.Because of their unprofessional conduct and non transparency they exploit the residents of Windhoek by constantly being unable to deliver land for development.Developers do great work and have delivered many times more homes than owner builders.Keep it up! Maybe one day the City of Windhoek will stop speculation of erven and earn revenue by delivering service.Proud Developer Via e-mailBut who within the municipality is to blame for the short supply? Ultimately the city fathers as the “Board of Directors” of Windhoek incorporated, and also specific departments within the municipality like town planning, property and economic development departments are to be blamed for short sightedness and inefficiency.Why do applications to purchase land by developers take up to ten months for initial investigation by the municipality? Why has no density and use rezoning been supported in many suburbs in Windhoek, e.g.from 1:900 to 1:500? There are a number of older properties that simply lose their value because they become liabilities instead of investments because of zoning stipulations.Higher density and use zonings will bring about unlocking of investment value in these properties, better utilization of infrastructure, e.g.roads, sewer, water and social services like schools and sports fields etc, that is up to now underutilized.If any of the executives in the relevant departments worked for a private company they would have been fired and like many people without houses be on the streets.Shareholders would have also replaced the Board of Directors by now.Because of their unprofessional conduct and non transparency they exploit the residents of Windhoek by constantly being unable to deliver land for development.Developers do great work and have delivered many times more homes than owner builders.Keep it up! Maybe one day the City of Windhoek will stop speculation of erven and earn revenue by delivering service.Proud Developer Via e-mail