Gated developments

Labby123

Hi,

One of the houses we have come across recently is a gated development and there seems to be a couple of gated developments popping up.
What are peoples thoughts on buying in a gated development?
The developments we have spotted one is a mixture of two bed apartments, 3 bed semis and four bed semi's all under £200k.
The other is 3 and four beds under £350k.
Both are less than 30 houses.
The mummy side of me likes the idea of gated for LO being able to play out in a fairly secure environment. The other side of me keeps thinking will I not get to know people outside of the development?

Thanks

da_rule

What are the implications regarding things like the roads? Would they be adopted or would they be the responsibility of the residents? If so does this mean that there is some sort of yearly charge or covenants on the property? Also, things like access for bin lorries, do you have to take the bins to the gates? And the services that run under the road (sewage etc), who has responsibility for them? Just a few questions that spring to mind with gated communities. I'm sure they all have practical answers.

Labby123

Thanks.

Some good things for us to think about.

Know one of them there is a yearly charge.
I did say to OH what would be the bin situation. Would you have to take them to the main road.

da_rule

Also, even things like who's responsible for maintaining the gates?

But I get what you're saying from a safety point of view, I guess it depends how hard the gates are to get out of etc, and whether the traffic is any less than on a quiet cul de sac.

gingin_2

We rented a house in one for 6 years from being built from new.

The gate kept breaking, you'd either get locked in or locked out then they would remain open for months at a time and anyone would park there, visitors of other houses would still park in our parking space regardless. Yours might be different parking wise.

Kids did play outside but the residents association banned ball games and animals on the grass, that was the only place you could play ball so it was a no go. There was a very cliquey feel to it most in part down to this residents association, either that's your sort of thing or not, it wasn't mine but didn't really bother me as I knew we would be leaving eventually. The busiest body and head of the association would put on a high visibility jacket and knock on doors if rules were broken to remind you of them. It used to make me chuckle when I saw him strolling round the development in his florescent yellow on "official" business. Bins were collected as normal, the flats had a shared bin store.

Ours gained a terrible reputation because a proportion of it had to be designated social housing and from some of those properties there was some serious anti social behaviour. We didn't live close to it so I didn't see it but I've seen it mentioned in the press and saw a number of police cars there.

We left and bought an old house in a normal street and I much prefer it. It's got a bit of soul, lovely neighbours, lots of character and no rules! I did find in the gated development there was a certain type that lived there, whereas here you get a huge mix of people which is lovely.

da_rule

Residents Associations was something I was going to mention. These communities can feel a bit 'snobby' and can have some quite draconian rules. As shown above regarding ball games etc and also things like what type of fences can be used and where you can/can't park.

Labby123

Thanks both.

My mum lives in a cul de sac and I think that is why we like the idea of both these developments. To me the gates can work or not work, I'm seeing it has a cul de sac with gates.
Gingin, dont say that I was happily visualising all the children playing happy.
There are a couple of 'communal areas on both developments and I think one said they may build a 'bit of a park'
Hope dogs wont be banned from walking inside the development, I clean up.
Cliquey is my concern. I'm friendly but quite shy but when I no people like where we are now I like chatting but would hate if on such small developments it was clique.
Gingin, what is 'a certain type'?
Da rule, I'm far from snobby (primarni and aldi) so maybe I best look elsewhere, worry we wont 'fit'.
Safety for LO was they key thing and kind of like the fact they were small developments so imagined like my mums cul de sac where everyone knows everyone and gets on.

gingin_2

Labby123 wrote: »

Thanks both.


Gingin, what is 'a certain type'?

Honestly? ... White, middle class and average age of 40-65. I'm in a completely different part of the country to you so it might in part be down to that, I don't know.

One positive was I certainly felt safe living there, safer than I do here, not that I've had any trouble whatsoever, but it does provide an element of psychological security. I had a husband who worked away a lot and tiny children and I appreciated that a lot.

I have a friend who lives on a development where they built the kids a play area and that is brilliant. Hers get together and meet up with other children in their designated play area, so I'd definitely go for one that had one, rather than not, if that's important to you.

Labby123

Thanks.

Just curious to see if it was what I initially thought were the type of people that lived in gated developments.
Before more and more popping up local. I thought people 40+ and earning excellent salaries and a place we definitely wouldn't fit it.
The cheaper of the estates when we went to look around would probably fit the 40-65 but some were possibly retired and the others young families.
My OH works away, only two/three days a week maybe five/six times a year and works long hours and so probably similar to you with thinking of the security.
Thanks and have a lovely evening.

AdrianC

Are the gates to keep the locals out or the residents in?

Seriously, how godawful is the surrounding area, if you need gates for "security"? Do they actually provide any, or just a warm-and-fuzzy in exchange for big maintenance bills? What happens if/when you get home one wet wintery evening, to find the gates broken, so you have to leave your car parked outside and go in on foot?

Errata

LO's soon become big ones. I see no point in buying a property because it will be 'suitable' for only a very short few years.