Professionals Real Estate Recent violent crimes in Perth are focussing greater public attention on the threat of crime and related social problems according to David Hobbs, CEO of Professionals Real Estate Group.
Mr Hobbs said that when people buy or rent a home, they want a secure place to live without the threat of being confronted by criminals, or children being exposed to anti-social behaviour.
“The issue of crime and personal security in the Perth property market is now becoming an important focus as social problems increase with the huge growth in the Perth metropolitan area. Over the last 30 years, Perth has grown into a major city and this growth is expected to surge even further over the next three decades. The latest forecasts predict Perth and Peel’s population will double from 1.7 million within just 35 years as the state attracts overseas and interstate workers and their families at a rate of nearly 50,000 a year. A surging population unfortunately can bring social problems and the issue of crime is one which our community will have to grapple with even more during the coming years,” he said.
Mr Hobbs added that homebuyers should consider a number of issues related to crime before buying a property.
- Crime levels in a local area can have a negative impact on the resale of a property and the weekly rent an investment property can achieve. This is because specific areas with a perceived high level of crime are a less desirable place to live both for owner occupiers and renters. Before buying a property you should check with neighbours and the local police to assess levels of crime in the street.
- Check out if the area has private security, some local governments are now employing private security companies. Private security will give you an added level of protection and could be a selling point if you choose to on-sell the property at a later stage.
- It is also worth finding out if the local area has an effective Neighbourhood Watch scheme and a community group. A local area with a strong sense of community usually means that grime is kept to a minimum. This is why new housing developments with a strong community focus are becoming more popular in Western Australia.
- The property itself should also offer a high level of security. Homes which have an alarm system and security window grills and doors are now more attractive in the housing market. This is particularly the case in the rental market because figures show that rental homes have a higher risk of being burgled than owner-occupied homes.
- Car parking is another key issue to pay attention to. Properties that have secure parking are now in high demand. In suburban homes, garages are more attractive to homebuyers than properties with carports. In strata developments, properties with secured car parking sell for a higher price than similar properties which have unsecured parking.
- The specific location of a property can also be important when considering crime. For example, a property which is located beside a street light may offer more protection during the night time. A property backing onto a reserve or a side alley way can present a higher crime risk and it may deter some future homebuyers from purchasing the property as it is more exposed.
- Ground floor apartments can be more difficult to sell than homes in the same complex which are on a higher floor. Homebuyers view ground floor apartments as more vulnerable to crime and you should check the selling prices of similar ground floor apartments in the area before you consider purchasing such a property.
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