Renters

Tenancy has been one of the fastest growing markets in Kenya for the last couple of decades. Statistics show that about 5 million households in Kenya live in rented dwellings which is about 40% of the population. With a growing population, growing cost of land and construction, the number of tenants in Kenya is only expected to go up. This relationship where an owner of the property gives you the right to...

One thing that is becoming clear to many Kenyans is just how difficult house hunting can get. Unfortunately, people only notice this when the time to get a new house or change places comes. Moreover, finding something that matches your taste, budget, location and moving time adds more complexity to an already complex problem. As a result, most Kenyans are left to settle for whatever options are in the...

Increasing rent can be a highly contentious affair especially in times of economic hardship. When most people are house hunting, rent is the number one reason they choose a house. So when the rent goes up from what they had initially planned for, it causes a strain on their budget. While this is true, landlords are also seeing an increase in utility charges and from time to time, they have to adjust rents...

One of the most contested issue when it comes to moving from a rented house is getting your rent deposit back. The landlord or agent will give you countless excuses just so that they can find a reason to withhold the security deposit. While not every tenant might qualify to get their deposit returned, I strongly believe in a fair system where justice prevails. The truth of the matter is that if you can...

Let me start this off by asking you a simple question, how much rent are you currently paying? And how does it compare to your income. I have been a property manager for several years now and some of the tenants who we have had issues with are those who rent houses above their income. If you move into a house whose rent is way above what you can manage, then you can expect to run into rental arrears from...

Every market has its own bad-actors and the rental market is no different. There are countless stories of Kenyans who have been duped in their home search. Whether it is due to greed, ignorance or just not knowing, conmen are making a killing from Kenyans and it is not good. You see TRUST is really important in the real estate world and whenever it is eroded, it becomes hard to restore. In this blog, I...

Waiyaki Way is a corridor located West of Nairobi CBD. The area hosts a number of estates that are not only affordable but come with security, greenery and a semi-urban vibe. If you are into nature and wellness, I would definitely recommend moving along this area. However, what sets this zone apart from the rest is its proximity to working nodes like CBD and Westlands. Majority of people living within...

Over the years, some of the complains I have received from tenants is that their units are too expensive for the quality they are getting. While I had ignored this issue earlier, in recent times, it seems that the issue is becoming a growing concern. In developed countries where systems work, there is often a Fair housing act or some laws set to protect renters from this exploitation. However, in Kenya,...

Tatu City has rapidly transformed into one of Kenya’s most important mixed-use developments and economic hubs. Located along the Northern Bypass and close to the Eastern Bypass and Thika Superhighway, the city combines residential, commercial, industrial, educational, and recreational spaces within a master-planned environment. When the project first launched, many Kenyans were skeptical about whether...

Nairobi is the center of business activities in the country, more so, its town center which is named as the Central Business District (CBD). Research states that Nairobi CBD is home to over 21,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs). When you include companies, banks, government institutions and the informal sector, you see why CBD is a major commercial hub. All these businesses and sectors employ...