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Owning a second home in South Africa
If emigrating to the Rainbow Nation seems appealing but out of reach, owning a second home in South Africa there could be the answer
Such is the lure of South Africa that many Brits decide to buy a house there after enjoying happy holidays in the country. Bob and Sylvia Franklin did just that. After selling their pub in the heart of the Sussex countryside and taking early retirement they bought a three-bedroom property in Plettenberg Bay, famous for the whales that bob around in the swell from July to October. Kate Baddeley met up with Bob and Sylvia to discuss the practicalities of living six months of the year in South Africa and six months in the UK.
Kate Baddeley(KB): Why did you decide to buy a house in South Africa?
Bob and Sylvia (B&S): Well we've always liked South Africa – we first went there on holiday in 2000 and just loved it – and we planned to buy a property somewhere outside of the UK when we retired. We considered Spain, but realised it wouldn't be warm enough in the winter months. In fact, South Africa in many ways feels a lot more English then Spain. Of course, English is the main language in South Africa, they drive on the left hand side of the road and they have several newspapers in English. And, of course, not forgetting that property prices were extremely reasonable when we purchased our house. Our three-bedroom house cost approximately £52,000.
KB: How complicated was the purchasing process in South Africa?
B&S: Easy peasey. We saw it, we loved it, and we put down a deposit on a credit card and it was ours. Once you pay the deposit in South Africa that's it, there's no backing out. It did take a little while to go through because the Land Registry were disputing the value of the furnishings in the house – which affects the amount of stamp duty you pay. So it took from February to July, but we managed to do it all via post and email from the UK. The process is slightly different in South Africa as the same solicitor represents both the buyer and the seller. Estate agents fees, which are paid by the seller, are also a lot more expensive then in the UK, so that bumps up the cost of selling your property.
KB: What are the financial implications of spending six months of the year in South Africa?
B&S: Well, you can stay out there for three months without any visa. As of last year you have to pay to stay for up to six months. This costs about £80 but it's not the money that's the problem it's all the extra paperwork you have to fill in. There are ways round this, however; we tend to go out in September and then return for Christmas and then go back for three months from January. Aside from that, we don't pay any South African taxes – just UK taxes. We pay a maintenance charge all year for the up-keep of our property. We pay a levy and then electricity on top of that. Other costs to bear in mind are car tax and insurance; you can't survive in South Africa without a car.
KB: How does the cost of living in South Africa compare to the UK?
B&S: The basics are all cheaper. A weekly grocery shop is almost half what it is in the UK, and petrol costs approximately 54 pence a litre. One of the first things we do when we get out there is buy a huge fillet steak, which is only about £12, and stick in on the braai (barbecue). Electrical goods and cars are more expensive than in the UK, and car hire and things like razors cost the same. The benefit of living between the UK and SA is of course we are still spending sterling and so get more for our money.
KB: So how do you spend your time in South Africa?
B&S: There are three beautiful beaches in Plettenberg, although we tend to do more walks along them rather then sunbathing. Walks in South Africa are somewhat different to the UK, they tend to be a bit dangerous – it's not unusual to encounter sheer cliff drops (not fenced off) en route. We do lots of relaxing, the sorts of things you'd do if you were on holiday. If people come and stay with us we often end up doing the touristy things, like going out on a boat to see the whales – which is amazing. We do a lot of reading in South Africa. There are a lot of second-hand books shops around.
KB: How is where you live in South Africa different to where you live in the UK?
B&S: Of course, the main difference is the weather; even in the winter in South Africa the temperature rarely drops below ten degrees. But we have beautiful views in both our house; in Plettenberg over the bay and in the UK over the Sussex countryside. We enjoy the best of both worlds.
KB: Would you ever move to SA permanently?
B&S: We have thought about it, although we think we'll always keep a bolt hole in the UK. The cost of private healthcare worries us as we're getting older, you have to buy into a scheme and it can be quite costly. And of course we have family in the UK.
KB: How has your lifestyle changed?
B&S: In South Africa it's just a different style of living. In the UK we are always doing something – rebuilding the cottage, doing the garden, there's always a job to do. Not in South Africa, we have less responsibility and no ties. We wake up and think, 'What shall we do today?' It's all about quality time. Unless of course we're suffering from a hangover!
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