Pros and Cons of Gated Community Flats in Hyderabad

                            Gated community flats or villas in Hyderabad have really caught on as a real estate trend in the past decade. Defined as ‘a form of residential project or housing estate containing strictly controlled entrances for outsiders and vehicles and often characterized by a closed perimeter of walls and fences’, gated communities are increasingly being sought out by  urban Hyderabadis exposed to the Western way of living.

Residential Flats In Hyderabad

We wondered why apartments in gated communities held so much fascination for so many people:

Advantages Of Gated Residential Projects In Hyderabad:

• The foremost factor in a home buyer’s mind, when looking at a property, is often the safety and security of the location. With round-the-clock security systems, electronic gates, surveillance cameras etc., gated communities provide a sense of protection to the residents.

• Since entry is restricted into such communities, there is lesser traffic inside, leading to lower noise and pollution.

• A gated community offers exclusivity and privacy for its residents. For those who like to live away from the hoi polloi, gated communities give them an edge over non-gated properties.

• Most real estate developers in Hyderabad provide amenities such as uninterrupted power supply (via diesel generators) and municipal water supply to their gated communities. This can be a boon in a place prone to water shortages in summer and recurrent power outages throughout the year.

• Such apartment or villa complexes also offer facilities such as a party hall, gym, convenience store, cafeteria, salon/spa, swimming pool, day care centre, lawns, sports areas, etc. which can be a great value addition to the members’ lifestyle.

• Many gated residential apartments celebrate many religious and social occasions with fervour. This imparts a feeling of cohesiveness and brotherhood in the community.

However, it has always been debated if gated communities really are a boon or a bane:

Disadvantages Of Gated Properties Are Below:

• As expected, the cost of acquiring and maintaining a flat or a villa in a gated complex is higher than elsewhere. Real estate builders state the added amenities and facilities, as well as a higher resale value, as the reason for a higher price for gated properties.

• Living in a beautiful, clean gated complex means that everyone has to abide by certain rules to maintain the peace, calm, and orderliness of the area. This insistence on (perceived) rigid rules may not be agreeable to all.

• There is some disagreement whether the presence of security systems really decreases incidents of crime. While the security guards and gadgets may act as deterrents, the responsibility of security still lies with the residents and their actions.

• Many people feel that living in a homogenised, Western-style gated community cuts the residents off from the ‘real’ residents of Hyderabad. Living in a ‘bubble’, they are deprived of exposure to the local cuisine, language, and culture.

• Many gated communities are built far away from the commercial and business hubs because of the sprawling and open architecture required for them. This leads to a longer time for residents commuting to and from workplaces.

Conclusion: Despite there being pros and cons, luxury villas andapartments in gated communities are getting more popular by the day. In the near future, we can only expect more such real estate projects to come up in Hyderabad.