Standalone Building: Designing Efficient Structures

With urban centres becoming more chaotic, home seekers are increasingly turning to gated communities. While such projects may provide a serene environment, these come at a price. “Societies or complexes have numerous amenities provided along with it. However, the burden on the pocket is also more,” says Rahul Shah, CEO, Sumer Group.

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Pros and cons: Gated communities Vs standalone buildings

Gated communities	Standalone buildings
More secure for families as it has guards and CCTV cameras.	Security may be a cause of concern even when there is a guard.
Backup power supply, treated water facilities are easily available.	Owners have to arrange power backup and water tankers on their own.
Usually have commercial complexes inside the community, to cater to daily needs.	No additional amenities are available in standalone buildings.
A flat in a gated community carries a premium price, due to the facilities available.	Construction quality and credentials of the developer may be questionable.
Situated away from the central locations, commuting may be difficult.	Usually constructed in city-centres, close to central areas.
Property prices in a gated communities are priced 10%-40% higher than standalone buildings.	A flat in a standalone building is more affordable, as there are hardly any common facilities.
Usually preferred by families.	Usually preferred by students and bachelors.

Gated communities: These provide a secure environment for the families, with guards and CCTV cameras. Many complexes also have backup power, treated water facilities and solar-powered heating systems, amongst other essential amenities. A well-built community may also have commercial complexes, to cater to the daily need of its residents. Shopping complexes, schools and hospitals, within the community or nearby, help to boost the demand for such projects. “Owing to this, the lifestyle quotient also gets a big boost. This helps people to meet more like-minded people, thereby, building interpersonal relationships,” says Hari Challa, MD, Aliens Group.

The prime disadvantage of a gated community is the price factor. “Facilities such as a swimming pool, gymnasium, health centre and sports fields, come at a premium, adding to the cost of living. Some gated communities are usually situated away from business centres, to provide a peaceful environment. Hence, commuting may become more difficult,” explains Shah.

Meticulous security checks in gated communities, may also irritate people who come to visit the residents. Depending on the type of security, one have to deal with keypads, security guards, security cards and opening/closing of the gates, etc., which may delay free movement and hassle some people.

Standalone buildings: The biggest advantage of standalone buildings, are that they can be developed within the city, owing to the smaller land area needed. Additionally, standalone projects don’t have high maintenance charges. However, the credentials of such developers and the construction quality may be questionable, when it comes to standalone buildings. Security is another cause of concern, even when there is a guard.

Differences in prices and rentals

A flat in a standalone building is more economical and affordable, as compared to gated communities, as the common facilities are much smaller or non-existent. “Property price in a gated community, tends to be higher by 10 to 40 per cent, in comparison to a standalone building. However, in a gated community, the project risk to the buyer is more, in terms of delivery and promised amenities,” elaborates Amit Wadhwani, director, Sai Estate Consultants.

When it comes to rentals, tenants who are bachelors and have limited financial resources, prefer standalone buildings. Aniket Haware, managing director, Haware Developers, points out that “Standalone buildings are much cheaper and also located in the city, with the well-established infrastructure like schools, hospitals, markets, banks, etc., nearby. For example, in a city like Navi Mumbai, rentals in areas like Vashi will be anything between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 for a 1-BHK in a standalone building, whereas, it will cost Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 in a gated community or township.”

Main differences: Standalone buildings and gated communities

A well-built gated community may have various commercial complexes, to serve the daily needs of its residents.
Facilities such as swimming pools, gymnasiums, health centres and sports fields, are added benefits, which come at a premium, adding to the cost of living.
A flat in a standalone building is more economical and affordable, as compared to one in a gated community, as the maintenance cost is lower and the common facilities are much smaller or non-existent.

FAQs

What is standalone building?

A standalone building is a free-standing residential building, offering minimum amenities and fulfilling basic requirements. They are usually constructed in centrally-located areas.

What is standalone house?

A standalone house usually means an independent house or a bungalow or a villa.

Should you buy a flat in standalone building or a township?

It depends on where you want to stay and what your priorities are. Standalone buildings are located in central locations while townships are away from the city.

(With inputs from Surbhi Gupta)

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Anuradha Ramamirtham

With 16+ years of experience in various sectors, of which more than ten years in real estate, Anuradha Ramamirtham excels in tracking property trends and simplifying housing-related topics such as Rera, housing lottery, etc. Her diverse background includes roles at Times Property, Tech Target India, Indiantelevision.com and ITNation. Anuradha holds a PG Diploma degree in Journalism from KC College and has done BSc (IT) from SIES. In her leisure time, she enjoys singing and travelling.
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