Welcome to Ask Sheila – your place to ask me all those big (and small) questions you have about visiting or living in Bali. This week – What should I check before I buy or rent a long-term villa in Bali? (Part 1)
Buyer beware!
As the saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure”, and that is certainly true when buying a villa or land in Bali! Unlike many other jurisdictions, there is no government ombudsman who checks over your deal when you buy or lease a villa in Bali and ensures that everybody fulfils their requirements. So you have to go into it with your eyes wide open! Caveat emptor – buyer beware! There are many things you need to check before you buy or lease a villa in Bali.
Location, location, location!
Today I want to focus on location. Where you buy or lease your villa is obviously important. It needs to be a place in Bali that ticks as many of your boxes as possible. Would you rather be close to nature or in an urban area, close to western conveniences and facilities or do you prefer a local style area? Do you need hospitals and schools, local markets? Of course, the more desirable the area, the higher the price, so this will affect how much land you can get.
Zoning
Land zoning is important because it determines what is (or isn’t) possible in that area. Some areas are commercial, others are residential or agricultural. This will affect what you can do in that area. Don’t be fooled by anyone who says they “know a guy” who can solve your zoning problems. Follow the rules and regulations to minimise potential problems. You must carefully check the zoning of the area before you buy or lease in Bali!
Access
What a gorgeous villa or piece of land you just found. Only one problem – access is via a private road that is owned by a different landowner who you don’t know. Before you pay for your villa or land, make sure you have a written and signed (and perhaps notarised) deal with that landowner that gives you access and ensures that your access cannot be blocked or sold. Without it, you may find yourself unable to get to your investment without paying an exorbitant fee each year.
Neighbours
Moving in and getting to know your neighbours in Bali is often a lovely experience. You can soon get to know your entire community. When I first moved into my first long term villa, all the neighbourhood kids came over to play with my then baby and 3 year old. They’d play regularly in the street and I soon became known as “Phoenix and Luna’s mum”.
However, sometimes your neighbours may disturb your quality of life. I’m not referring to the odd rooster in the morning (welcome to Bali!), I mean things that can really have a detrimental effect, such as burning plastic rubbish everyday. I always recommend doing al little reconnaissance of the area where you intend to live. Check out your future neighbours at various times of the day before you commit.
Also, be aware that vacant land doesn’t always stay vacant. Unless you buy it yourself, someone else may purchase it and then it’s out of your control what they do with it. In some cases, it’s better to buy the last available plot and be the last to build, so you can see what has been built around you.
A few months ago I wrote a blog post and mentioned that one of my neighbours had moved out and really stripped the house bare (pic 1 below). In the last few months, the owner has renovated the house and it’s turned out quite nice (pic 2 below). They are looking to rent it out. A friend of mine was looking for a basic local home to rent so I was about to recommend it, and then one day I saw a team of workers clearing the next piece of land (pic 3 below)
Living next to a construction site?
I went over to the workers and had a chat. The owner of the local house also owned this piece of land. The workers were clearing the land and preparing for a build. They were going to build a large kos kosan (local guesthouse). It seems that once the local house is rented out, the owner will use the lease payment to fund the new build.
So whoever rents that local house is about to have many months (maybe a year) of a noisy and dusty build right next door. Plus all the workers will live on-site. It’s unlikely to be a particularly relaxing time. This is yet another reason why you have to check the location of your villa or land very carefully.
A similar thing happened when I lived on Padang Linjong in Canggu. When it was time to renew our lease, our landowner wanted a minimum of 3 years. When I ask him why, he explained that he needed the money up front so he could build a villa right next to mine ☹. And that’s exactly what he did!
Living next to a ferris wheel!
Here’s a more extreme example happening in Berawa. Imagine buying/building a villa right next to a gorgeous rice field, and before your eyes, an enormous ferris wheel is built. What a joy to have strangers peering into your windows as it goes around and around every night (not to mention the lights and music!)
So it’s clear that you should definitely check the location carefully before buy a villa or land the in Bali! Not only are there the more common issues (popular & more expensive area vs quieter & cheaper area), but there are also other factors like maintaining access and ensuring your neighbours don’t disturb your serenity! Good luck!
Looking for all our tips, as well as our detailed, step-by-step guide, to building in Bali? We’ve done all the hard work for you and created this 100+ page comprehensive guide with everything you need to know!
Got a question for Sheila? Visiting Bali and not sure what to do or where to go? Building a villa in Bali? Want to know our favourite secret spots? Tips on how to have the best Bali holiday? Send your question to admin@bali-interiors.com
