Accommodation in Kenya

Expats moving to Kenya – especially those with a jaded or pessimistic attitude toward relocating to an African nation – will be pleasantly surprised by the range and quality of housing options available. European expats, particularly, can look forward to finding accommodation that is (in all likelihood) far more spacious than anything they'd be able to find in their country of origin.

Renting Property in Kenya

Initially at least, most expats will probably opt for renting property in Kenya. There is a wide range of options available to expats: from stand-alone houses on big plots located away from city centres, to garden cottages, to downtown apartment blocks, and – most popular of all – four-bedroom units in townhouse complexes. Since it is by far and away the commercial hub of Kenya, most expats will probably end up renting property in Nairobi.
 

Accommodation in Kenya can be costly (more or less equivalent to UK prices); and expats might well be responsible for securing premises themselves, which can be a significant monthly expense. Expats, therefore, should try to ensure that their employment contract contains at least some kind of provision for a housing stipend; this is common practice in Kenya.
 

Expats will find that estate agents are a tremendously helpful resource when hunting for a place to stay in Kenya. Well informed about the expat market, estate agents will assist in presenting expats with a bouquet of options to match their budgets, and will oversee the leasing process. Expats should note that generally, lease agreements are undertaken on a one- or two-year basis, and require one or two month's rent as deposit money.
 

The standard of accommodation in Kenya is, as previously mentioned, far higher than many expats would probably expect – and much of what is available is extraordinarily family-friendly. Houses are generally very spacious, with big bedrooms, commodious living areas, and expansive gardens. It is entirely common for townhouse complexes to boast swimming pools and gym facilities. Generally, the bigger the property, the further from the CBD it is, but commutes of more than 25 minutes are rare.
 

Home security is a bit of a concern in Kenya (as it would be in any country with such patent social inequality); however, the vast majority of expat accommodations have security measures in place, or – if they don't – they can easily be installed. A typical 'security package' will include stationed guards or night watchmen, motion-sensored outdoor lighting, burglar bars on the windows, panic buttons, and night-time intruder alarms. With these measures in place, many expats report that they feel safe in their homes in Kenya.

Safer still, are townhouse complexes: known as 'gated communities', where access to the individual units is often controlled by security guards stationed at a boom-gate, which is only opened to let residents and their visitors come and go.
 

Expats should also be aware when planning their housing budgets that utility bills in Kenya can be pricey: electricity is extremely expensive, and water costs can follow suit if piping  is not connected to the main supply. It is also common for expats in Kenya to employ gardeners and domestic workers in their homes, which – although a very affordable luxury – should be factored in to monthly expenses.
 

Another important consideration is that most expat accommodation in Kenya will be unfurnished, and – since shipping furniture to Kenya can be a lengthy, expensive, and all-round maddening process – by all accounts, it is far easier to simply purchase furniture once settled in the country. However, this approach also has its shortcomings, as imported furniture is notoriously expensive, and locally-made articles vary wildly in quality. The bottom line is that furnishing a house is another budgetary factor that demands serious consideration.

Buying Property in Kenya

It is a common occurrence for expats to be so taken with their new lives in the country, that they end up buying property in Kenya. 
 

In recent years, mortgages have become widely available, in both local and foreign currencies. However, expats should be wary of mortgages taken out in Kenyan Shillings, as they can attract interest rates of as high as 14 percent.  Moreover, the local currency can fluctuate a lot against foreign currencies, so expats should be aware that repayments on foreign currency mortgages will be adjusted accordingly.  A good idea is to pay a large sum up front and thus take as small a mortgage as possible.
 

It should be noted that the process of buying a house in Kenya has been likened to a minefield of bureaucracy, largely caused by corruption or inefficiency in city council officialdom.  There are endless hoops to jump through, and sometimes, bribes are even paid to land office officials to speed things up.  It can take months, even as long as a year, to change the title on a property in Kenya – and expats should be extremely careful and conduct thorough research into title deeds before committing to buying a property, as fraud is prevalent.
 

However, these negative considerations aside, buying property in Kenya – and especially in Nairobi – can be a stellar investment; particularly if one reflects on the fact that, over the past ten years, the value of some properties in the capital have increased ten-fold.