Types of residential houses in Kenya

One thing that I have come to realize over the years is just how little most Kenyans know about construction. And I don’t blame anyone, you see our education system has been quite unhelpful in preparing us for real-life. You go to school and are taught about the ‘parts of a locust’ but no one ever explains to you about the different house options that exist. This lack of knowledge in construction and real estate is why I started this blog, to equip each and every reader with subject matter expertise in the field. Many people who get conned when building or buying property often experience this because they lack the knowledge to make decisions. In this guide, I have decided to start you from the basics and explain the types of house in Kenya so that when it comes time for you to build, you don’t make a wrong decision.

Types of houses in Kenya

A common mistake I have seen Kenyans do when building is selecting a house design that doesn’t really suit their budget, need, size of land and future use. A lot of people just build based on market hype, pressure from their fundis and trends. The outcome is a house that doesn’t meet your needs and you end up feeling frustrated about it. Let us check out the types of houses available and the advantages as well as the disadvantages of each typology.

1. Bungalows in kenya

A bungalow is a house with all its rooms on one floor – the ground floor – meaning you don’t need to use stairs to move between the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms. It is usually built as a standalone home on its own piece of land and often has a front and/or back yard. It is a common house design for 2-bedrooms, 3-bedrooms and 4-bedrooms in general.

It is also relatively cheap compared to other house designs because it has less floors and no staircases. In construction, the simpler the design, the cheaper your project will end up being. If you want to save money in building a bungalow, the roof is the best part target, using a simple roof design like a shed roof will help you with this. I have done a guide on the types of roofs and will link it for you to explore. Bungalows are suitable in the following conditions;

Land is available and cheap – if you are building especially in the rural areas where land is not an issue, then a bungalow would be the best option as you don’t need a multi-storey building.
Ease of accessibility – bungalows are really convenient for the elderly or people with physical disabilities who can’t use stairs to get around the house. I also recommend this design for people doing a retirement home as you will probably grow old in that house and using stairs might not be easy as you grow old.
Ease of construction – if you want to build something that is easy to execute, a bungalow is the best design to go with. Especially if you are building in rural areas where the quality of workmanship is not as good as that of urban fundis and professionals.

Pros & Cons of Bungalows

Pros of Bungalows	Cons of Bungalows
Accessibility is easy, especially for older people.	Not suitable where land is limited or too small.
Cheaper in most cases compared to maisonettes.	Privacy is often lower compared to maisonettes.
Living feels more connected since everything is on the same floor.	Difficult to expand later without increasing the building footprint.
Simple and faster to construct.	Higher security risk because all rooms are located on one floor.

2. Maisonettes

A maisonette is a house design that allows you to have your rooms on multiple floors. So an example would be having you living room, kitchen, dining area on the ground floor and the bedrooms on the upper floor. With land prices going up and sizes shrinking, maisonettes have become quite common in satellite town.

Maisonettes are suitable in the following scenarios;

Land parcels are small – with the continued sub-division of land in urban areas, we are ending up with smaller and smaller pieces. This means that for you to get the most use out of the piece of land, you need to add more floors because spreading out the house on just 1-floor might not be enough for the property.
Land is expensive – when you are building on expensive land, you want to get as much use of the land as possible. That is why going with a maisonette becomes a popular option among urbanites. You will see a lot of such buildings in places like Syokimau and gated communities in Kitengela. If you are building a retirement home and want it to be in this particular design, make sure to include a good bedroom in the ground floor.
Privacy – if you want to separate your spaces for additional privacy, then a maisonette makes the most sense. Having your living areas on one floor and bedrooms on the other can help separate your living space.

Pros & cons of maisonettes

Pros of Maisonettes	Cons of Maisonettes
Make efficient use of land by building vertically.	More expensive to construct than bungalows in most cases.
Separation of living and sleeping areas provides greater privacy.	Internal staircases make them less suitable for older people and those with mobility challenges.
Upper floors can take advantage of scenic views, especially in areas like Ngong.	Construction and maintenance costs are generally higher.
Tend to appreciate well in value when located in desirable areas.	Cleaning and moving items between floors can be less convenient.

3. Townhouses

Townhouses are becoming common especially in urban areas. In simple terms, a town house is a multi-storey house that shares a wall with the neighboring house. They are built to maximize space use and reduce the cost of construction for developers who are doing estates in urban areas.

They are more popular with urban professionals who want to have a house near or within the city but still enjoy private spaces like a front yard which an apartment would not give. Most people end up buying townhouses as opposed to constructing them because they are master planned for estates. So what factors lead to the building of townhouses?

High urbanization rates – cities that are witnessing increased population growth like Nairobi and high demand for housing among the working middle-class might attract people seeking these types of houses.
Community living – most Kenyans are slowly gravitating towards community living because it allows them to share the cost of amenities like security, swimming pools and maintenance. Moreover, parents want a safe space for their children to grow up and play in while having playmates close by.
Affordability – townhouses are more affordable than comparable maisonettes because of the shared spaces. While they compromise on privacy in some ways, they make it up in the cost.

Pros & Cons of Townhouses

Pros of Townhouses	Cons of Townhouses
Maximize land use while providing individual homes.	Privacy is limited because walls are shared with neighboring units.
Well suited for gated communities with shared amenities and security.	Limited flexibility for customization and major renovations.
Lower development costs can translate into more affordable prices for buyers.	Resale values may not appreciate as strongly as detached homes in the secondary market.

4. Apartment Blocks

Apartment blocks are buildings that consist of multiple and separate dwelling units in each floor. They are common in urban areas where the population growth is high and demand for housing is also high. People that build them do so for investment purposes as rentals for others. With land prices and the cost of construction going up, they will only get more popular.

There are several reasons why they are popular;

Rapid population growth – Cities require housing for many people within limited space. A place like Nairobi is a good example of this situation.
Scarcity of urban land – Vertical construction accommodates more residents making it quite popular for developers to go ahead and implement.
High land prices – Building upward spreads land costs across many units making it profitable for investors.
Demand for rental housing – Investors can generate income from multiple apartments in areas where the demand for houses is growing.
Infrastructure efficiency – Utilities, roads, and public services can serve many households efficiently which makes them good for the governments.

Pros & Cons of apartment living

Pros of Apartment Blocks	Cons of Apartment Blocks
Best suited for urban areas where land is expensive.	Privacy is limited, and neighbors’ activities can affect your living experience.
Can accommodate a growing population efficiently.	Little or no space for outdoor activities in most apartment developments.
Shared facilities lower the cost and improve access to housing, especially for renters.	Strict rules and regulations from landlords or management can reduce flexibility.
Provide a reliable source of income for investors and landlords.	Parking spaces are often limited for tenants and visitors.

5. Villas

A villa is a spacious, detached luxury home, typically located on a large plot with private outdoor space. If you want the privacy of a maisonette while having the yard size of a bungalow but with luxury combined, then a Villa is the best option. With advances in architecture and engineering, you can customize it to your particular taste and design choice. My only caution is that villas don’t come cheap and you need to have good professionals guide you through the construction.

Pros & Cons of villas

Pros of Villas	Cons of Villas
Offer greater privacy and exclusivity.	More expensive to build and purchase than most other housing types.
Provide spacious living areas and larger outdoor spaces.	Higher maintenance costs for the house, garden, and amenities.
Often include premium features such as private gardens, pools, or parking.	Require a larger plot of land.
Ideal for families seeking comfort, luxury, and long-term living.	Utility bills and property taxes are generally higher.