THE DYNAMICS OF RENTAL HOUSING IN NAIROBI AND ITS OUTSKIRTS

Catherine Kariuki, Nicky Nzioki and Jennifer Murigu

AfRES from African Real Estate Society (AfRES)

Abstract: The 2012/2013 National Housing Survey in Kenya indicated that the majority of thepopulation living in urban areas are renters. This study aims to find out why peoplerent, what kind of housing units are attractive and the new areas that middle incomehouseholds prefer in Nairobi and its outskirts. The study will also establish whetherthese renters choose renting as an alternative to purchase even when they can affordhomeownership.The study will carry out interviews in selected areas of Nairobi and its outskirts. Thestudy hopes to establish that the rental market is dynamic and any developer planningto construct houses for this market must understand it first. There are severalreasons already identified in literature as to why people rent. These include mobility,renting allows people to remain mobile and move when their work place changes orwhen a better job becomes available elsewhere. A second reason given is flexibility.Renting also gives people considerable freedom over how to manage household budgets.It can also free up some money for their basic needs. The fact that the amountpaid is not large renting frees renters from major financial commitment. With morefunds available renters are able to support other relatives in rural areas. Rentingalso brings to focus the landlord and tenant relationship, with associated problemsof non-payment of rent, poor maintenance and repair culture and tenant evictions.The study hopes to come up with key policy suggestions. That is because not everyoneprefers home ownership, governments must stop promising universal homeownershipand be more sensitive to the needs of the renter and therefore be tenureneutral. That governments need to come up revised legislation that governors thelandlord and tenant relationship.

Keywords: Homeownership; landlord; Maintenance; Policy; Rental Housing; repair; Tenant (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: R3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-09-01
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