Kealeboga Mattaka is grateful she can afford to rent a small flat in a safe neighbourhood that gives her peace of mind during the turbulent Covid-19 pandemic.
The 26-year-old technical support consultant is one of many young South Africans who no longer have to rent a bed in a shared room or a small flat in the absence of other dignified, cost-effective accommodation.
One Johannesburg property developer, Live Easy, saw the need for the young, upwardly mobile set to have access to safe, affordable, formal housing within high-demand urban areas and spearheaded the charge.
The thinking behind the concept was to uplift first-time formal renters.
It was with this is mind that the developer launched the nano-living concept — 12m² to 30m² fully self-contained, unfurnished, DStv-ready modules with bathrooms and kitchenettes, and an average price tag of R2,970 a month.
Mattaka lives at a Live Easy rental apartment in Rivonia.
For someone who wants to get out of your mother’s house, this is it.
— Mbongiseni Hlatshwayo, Live Easy resident
“For a young adult like myself who comes from far, having an affordable accommodation that is close to shops and work and that has amenities is a huge plus for me.
“With Covid-19 being our new normal, it hasn’t been any easy for all of us, but knowing that one can still afford a place to stay within a safe neighbourhood just lightens one’s weight a bit,” she said.
“The building managers have made the living environment easier for everyone and they’re still willing to improve in certain areas by asking residents what would they like to have to make lives simple.
“They have opened a mini-supermarket in the yard for convenience. The flats are not that big, but you make it work.”
Mattaka believes this type of housing is what young people need because it is safe and affordable.
Insurance sales adviser Mbongiseni Hlatshwayo, 29, is enjoying nano living in a flat in Randburg.
“For someone who wants to get out of your mother’s house, this is it,” he quipped.
“But living in an affordable place like this has saved me a lot. Last year I lost my job due to Covid and was at home for five months, but I did manage to pay my rent until I got another job.
“It is a cool place to stay, especially budget-wise,” said Hlatshwayo.
Live Easy co-founder Jeff Froome said the comfortable “but uber-trendy lifestyle units fill the critical formal housing gap between social housing and private home ownership”.
“It’s called ‘impact housing’ because it delivers an unrivalled impact on so many levels.
“Socially, this sector of the market is empowered through the tenants’ ability to enjoy safe, affordable rental accommodation with an edgy urban appeal. From a location perspective, these units bring fresh, new energy into CBD and secondary node areas, revitalising them.
“Environmentally, these units have a positive impact because they’re constructed within the shells of existing buildings — no additional carbon footprints are created.
“Impact housing really is the next-generation residential play with the power to bring about positive change all-round,” said Froome.
Co-founder James Huff described the concept as “inclusionary, affordable luxury estate living”.
“Our nano units make up large lifestyle complexes that include wifi lounge areas, dedicated work spaces with boardroom facilities, a laundromat, gym, hair salon, green spaces, playgrounds and crèches.
“Tenants can live, work and play in the same connected space, with easy access to their places of employment, transport nodes and educational institutions for students. Security is also prioritised with 24-hour security and biometric access,” said Huff.
In Durban property agents are seeing a demand for living space in the central business district from a younger set, mainly rental accommodation for students as well those who have secured jobs in government facilities and looking to buy rather than lease.
Sandra Gordon, Pam Golding Properties senior research analyst, said: “The median price of sectional title homes in central Durban has risen steadily over the past decade, now averaging R420,000 for units sold across the market in 2021 to date.
“Activity levels and prices in the inner city housing market remained resilient despite the pandemic and the repeated lockdowns.
“Notably, with just over 40% of all recent buyers being young adults, this age profile suggests that many first-time buyers have purchased homes in the area during the past 12 months.
“In the Point area, where 98.3% are sectional title homes, the age profile of existing homeowners and recent buyers is very similar to the pattern seen in Durban Central, with 46% of recent buyers aged between 18 and 35 years.”
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