Mauritius

The climate in Black River is pleasant all year round. The highest average temperature in the region is 29°C in February and the lowest is 23°C in August. The water temperature ranges between 24°C and 29°C, with a yearly average of 24.2°C. According to the Köppen-Geiger classification, the climate is of the Aw type (savannah with dry winter). An average rainfall of 1,021mm is recorded per year. comparatively, the average annual rainfall over the island has been 2,010 mm in the last ten years. The climate is greatly influenced by trade winds – regular winds in the intertropical regions – blowing from east to west.

The residential component of Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate extends over 73 hectares around a 77 hectares golf course.

Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate is a phased development launched in 2022. Phase 1 was introduced to the market in March 2022.

The development will ultimately consist of 220 villas.

The average area of our plots is around 2,100m² and the area of the villas starts from 400m².

The price of the villas is between €1,490,000 and €3,000,000.

No. Construction straddling two plots is not allowed.

The architecture of the villas is inspired by the Mauritian art of living with a passive housing approach. We offer three types of villas (Villa N, Villa S and Villa W), with multiple options and three types of finishes (Typik, Metalik, Balsaltik). For more information, visit our website (www.harmonie.mu).

Owners must comply with strict architectural specifications and guidelines.

JFA Architects is the architectural firm working on the project. The team led by the Mauritian architect, Jean-François Adam has been able to bring out the concept of passive house in the architecture of the Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate villas. These spacious, outward-looking units sold off-plan (VEFA) are bathed in natural light.

Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate is located in the South-West of Mauritius, in the preserved and authentic region of Les Salines, Black River. Estimated travel times by car are as follows: • 10 minutes to Le Morne Peninsula • 20 minutes to Flic en Flac • 50 minutes to Curepipe, in the centre of the island • 45 minutes (off-peak) to Port Louis, the capital • 1 hour to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport Convenience stores, supermarkets, butcher shops, sports and leisure facilities and shopping centres are within 5-10 minutes by car.

No. However, we can put you in touch with a high-end property management and rental company.

The topography of Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate offers spectacular panoramic views of the sea, mountain and golf course. Future owners will also have privileged access to Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa and Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa, as well as the Group's upcoming hotel project, Harmonie Beachcomber. Choosing to live at Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate means choosing an authentic and modern lifestyle with total respect for the environment.

The Property Development Scheme (PDS), which replaced the Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) and the Real Estate Scheme (RES), allows for the creation of a set of residences for sale to non-citizens, citizens and members of the Mauritian diaspora.

The PDS includes the following:

1. the development of luxury residential units on freehold land with an area of at least 0.4220 hectares (1 arpent);
2. the development of at least six (6) high-end residential properties;
3. high-quality public spaces that promote social interaction and a sense of community;
4. high-quality commercial and leisure facilities and facilities to improve residential units;
5. day-to-day management services to residents, including security, maintenance, gardening, solid waste disposal and domestic services; and
6. a social contribution in terms of social infrastructure, community development and other facilities for the benefit of the community.

A non-citizen purchasing a PDS villa is eligible for a residence permit with a minimum investment of  USD 375,000 or the equivalent in a freely convertible foreign currency.

Yes. Property remains an ultra-safe investment. Purchasing a villa at Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate is an investment with great potential for added value on resale.

Once approval is received from the Prime Minister’s Office, if required, a PDS property can be purchased by the following:

1. a Mauritian citizen;
2. a foreign citizen;
3. a foreign company under the Companies Act 2001;
4. a “société” under the Companies Act 2001; or
5. a Trust.

PDS villas are sold off-plan under the “Vente en l’État Futur d’Achèvement” scheme. This is a contract under which the seller immediately transfers his rights and ownership of existing buildings to the buyer. Future works become the property of the purchaser as they are completed and the latter is therefore obliged to pay the price of the villa in instalments as works progress, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 1601-1 to 1601-45 of the Mauritian Civil Code. The prices are set as part of a VEFA agreement and the buyer is provided with a performance bond (GFA) to ensure completion of his villa and servicing of common areas.

The residence permit is issued for buyers, their spouses and children under the age of 24. It remains valid as long as the buyer retains ownership of his PDS villa. It is issued a few months after signing the deed of sale in case of a VEFA agreement or resale and upon completion of construction of the villa.

Yes. A non-citizen will be eligible to apply for a residence permit upon purchase of a Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate Harmonie Villas property whose valued at least is not less than USD375,000, or its equivalent in any other freely convertible foreign currencies. Spouses and dependent children (under 24 years) are also eligible to apply for a Mauritian residence permit.

An unmarried partner can also apply for the residence permit provided, as long as that he or /she is in a living relationship with the purchaser and holds, at the time of application, a cohabitation agreement (Certificat de Concubinage), or any other document certifying such relationship with the purchaser, duly prepared by a law practitioner.

One option is that the residential property can be purchased either by you or your partner. B, where the buyers is are eligible to apply for a Residence Permit for themselves (main applicants) and their common law partner (dependent) , as long as they are latter is in a living relationship with the buyer.

At the time of application, a cohabitation agreement (Certificat de Concubinage) must be submitted, or any other document certifying such relationship duly prepared by a law practitioner must be submitted. However, please note that the residence permit for a common law partner is issued for a renewable period of 12 months and is renewable.

Alternatively, if both of you intend to jointly acquire a property, this can be made realized through setting up a n legal entity or trust.

The residence permit remains valid as long as the purchaser buyer owns the property purchased under the PDS regime, and is revoked cancelled when the purchaser buyer ceases to own the property.

The Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate Harmonie Villas team will assist you with all administrative procedures with the relevant authorities.

A residence permit obtained followings a result of the acquisition of a property under the PDS regime does not exempt the purchaser from the requirement of obtaining a work permit. The non-citizen will need to apply for a work permit separately.

Mauritius has built a reputation, over the years, built its reputation as a secure and reliable investment hub and as one of Africa’s top-ranked economies. This Mauritius is a free market economy has, having claimed the highest score on ease of doing business in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with free movement of capital indue to the absence of any exchange control, enabling free movement of Capital.

The island boasts a streamlined simplified tax system and an attractive fiscal tax regime consisting of:

• a flat tax rate of 15% (income, corporate and VAT);

• free repatriation of profits, dividends and capital;

• no taxation on interest and dividends at source;

• no capital gains tax;

• no inheritance tax for direct descendants;

• Solidarity Levy: additional 25% on income above EUR 60K per year up to a maximum of but capped at 10% of total income; and

• Double Taxation Agreements with 46 countries, including France, South Africa, the United Kingdom, India and China.

Properties are sold off-plan under the VEFA (Vente en l'État Futur d'Achèvement) governed by the Mauritian Civil Code. The VEFA establishes clear procedures under which a property can be purchased, as follows:

1. Reservation Agreement

The buyer and the developer sign a reservation agreement, known as the Contrat de Réservation Préliminaire (“CRP”), upon which a deposit is paid by the buyer into an escrow account.

2. Buyer approval

Upon receipt of the required documents from the buyer, the developer will make an application to the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius to seek approval for the acquisition of the property.

3. Deed of sale

Once the developer has advised the buyer that all the relevant permits, financial, legal and technical requirements are in place for going ahead with the construction of the residential property, a Deed of Sale is signed. This document that transfers the ownership of the residential property purchased under the PDS regime from the developer to the buyer. As such, upon signature of the Deed of Sale at the Notary’s office, the buyer becomes the registered owner of the property under the laws of Mauritius.

The VEFA contract includes a performance bond, known as a “Garantie Financière d’Achèvement” (“GFA”). This guarantee is issued by a reputable bank, which will undertake to ensure that the project is completed and delivered according to agreed specifications in the event of default by the developer. The GFA is issued to the purchaser at the time of signature of the Deed of Sale.

Your deposit will be held in a special account opened with a commercial bank where the Notary shall act as “Escrow Agent”. As such, the Notary ensures that the money remains into the account until the Deed of Sale is signed in line with the requirements of the law. The deposit will then be released to the developer as part of the selling price. The deposit is fully refundable in the event that approval is not obtained from the EDB or the developer does not proceed with the project.

The property price is payable by instalments at different stages of construction according to a timeline specified by the developer and the following payment conditions:

• Signature of CRP: 10% deposit
• Signature of the Deed of Sale: 20% + taxes
• Completion of foundations: 5% (+ 4 months)
• Waterproofing: 35% (+4 months)
• Completion of the villa: 25% (+6 months)
• Handing over of the villa: 5% (+4 months)

Estimated duration of construction work = 18 months from signing of the Deed of Sale

(a) Notary fee: 0.5% of selling price + VAT, payable upon signing of the Deed of Sale

(b) Registration Duty, which is currently 5% of selling price.

(c) EDB Application fees: currently at MUR 20,000, and may be subject to change and is non-refundable

(d) Escrow account opening charges: EUR 700 + VAT, non-refundable

Yes, mortgages can be secured with local commercial banks for the purchase of the property.

Harmonie Golf & Beach Estate has privileged relationships with local management companies that can advise you should you require assistance in this regard.

The developer of the project is Les Salines PDS Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Semaris Ltd (www.semaris.mu), a public company incorporated on 23 February 2018 in Mauritius.

Yes, following construction and handover, the common areas will be managed by a co-owners’ association (Syndicat de Copropriété). The general rules of co-ownership will be included in the Co-ownership Regulations.

All co-owners will contribute a co-ownership fee to cover the operational costs for all common areas. The share of contribution of residential units is determined by the Notary as part of the Co-ownership Regulations based on criteria including their size and facilities available.

There are 5 golf courses in the South and South-West region.