Val de Vie is one of South Africa’s top luxury lifestyle estates. It offers high-end homes for an affluent clientele, but breaking its rules can result in fines as high as R20,000.
Val de Vie is situated in the Cape Winelands between Paarl and Franschhoek and is one of South Africa’s premier luxury lifestyle estates.
The estate boasts vineyards, polo fields, an equestrian centre, the highly-regarded Pearl Valley golf course, scenic natural fynbos, parks, lakes, and picturesque mountain views.
Val de Vie comprises several distinct neighbourhoods, including Pearl Valley, the Polo Village, the Gentleman’s Estate, the River Club, the Reserve, the Vines, the Acres, and the Evergreen Val de Vie retirement village.
New World Wealth estimates that by 2050, 50% of centi-millionaires, those with a net worth over $100 million (R1.8 billion), will either live in lifestyle estates or have second homes there.
This doesn’t seem unrealistic when considering the price tags of these homes, including those in Val de Vie.
The total value of the completed 1,300 homes and apartments in Val de Vie, plus the estate’s amenities and facilities, including the Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, totals R15 billion with an average value per home in excess of R10 million.
According to the latest listings, house prices range from R3.5 million for a one-bedroom apartment to over R20 million for a five-bedroom house.
According to Property24’s sales reports, 151 homes have been sold in the luxury estate, as registered in the South African Deeds office.
Of the properties currently on sale, the average listing price of a one-bedroom apartment is R4.8 million, while homes with five bedrooms or more are averaging R23.85 million.
However, active listings with Pam Golding show houses selling for as much as R62.5 million, while others have sold in the past for over R100 million.
This means that you have to be a bona fide millionaire to live in an award-winning estate such as Val de Vie.
New World Wealth said estate living is rising globally, particularly among the wealthy.
Break the rules and pay dearly
Due to its world-class standards, the estate and its Home Owners Association (HOA)—as well as its trustees—have strict rules and costly fines that come with them.
Warnings and penalties are issued according to the Estate Rules Transgression Chart (ERT), which is published on the Val de Vie website.
A major aspect of these rules is traffic control to ensure the safety of all residents of the estate.
According to the Estate Rules, a maximum speed limit of 40 km/h applies, and transgressing this limit will cost between R500 and R10,000, depending on your record.
Driving 5 km/h over the speed limit will cost first-timers R500, while those who drive 10 km/h and over face a fine of R2,000.
However, these increase substantially for those who are guilty of speeding in the estate more than once. Speeding fines can climb to R4,000, R5,000, and even R10,000 for fourth-time transgressors.
Other traffic violations include reckless driving, cutting traffic circles, illegal parking and driving, and children joyriding in motor vehicles, which will also cost you R5,000.
Interestingly, there are other transgressions that will earn you a R10,000 fine in the estate.
These include illegally moving any tree and unauthorized driving through the Bio-Diversity area, which will also result in expulsion from the luxury estate.
However, there is one fine that will cost even more, and this is what the Estate Rules Transgression Chart calls “delinquent behaviour by minors”. The minimum fine imposed for such transgressions is set at R20,000.
According to the rules, this is defined as any minor found to be responsible for conduct or behaviour which, in the view of the trustees, has brought the name of the estate into disrepute, caused excessive waste of estate resources, or caused damage or loss to the estate or residents and owners.
The trustees will impose a penalty (set out in the Estate Rules Transgression Chart) or such greater penalty as deemed appropriate by the Trustees.
In addition, the minor’s parents will be held responsible for the costs of repairing, restoring, or replacing the damaged property.
The Val de Vie Estate Rules in its entirety can be viewed below.
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