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Inside Rwanda’s Affordable Housing Explosion

December 06, 2016 at 10:45 pm

Are the announcements of huge projects for ‘affordable houses’ to be taken seriously?

When King Mohammed VI of Morocco was here in October, a $68m project for 5,000 cheap houses was announced. In December last year, executives from Qatari-Egyptian firm Almoez Holdings Group also came with a huge offer to establish thousands more houses.

Three months earlier, the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) – a government agency, announced construction of 20,000 housing units for low income earners. Dozens other government and private entities have made similar announcements.

Kigali City, with a 1.2m population, the new housing demand is estimated at 344,068 dwelling units between 2012 and 2022. More than 60% are needed for low and middle class, according to study done by government. Kigali City says it can avail at least 10,000 dwelling units every year to bridge the gap. Are these housing units only statements or actual ground work?

Away from the figures and announcements, Kigalians need the houses like yesterday. Well aware that statements of intent take years to materialise, yet the houses are urgent, KT Press’ Leonard Nshimiyimana and Julius Rwakarema have done the work for you the reader. We know some of you have incomes which can allow you to buy yourself a house. Some – like those in the diaspora, have saved and want a descent but affordable home back in your country.

We have identified 18 projects and visited the construction sites for you in the 3 districts of Kigali. Out of 18 housing projects toured, we found only 2 housing projects are yet to begin construction – the rest are in advanced stages of construction. Some houses will cost between Rwf5m to Rwf15million, well for those that can afford Rwf50m or more – be prepared. Some houses got for as high as Rwf500m. The downside is that some projects require cash payments, though several told us they will be accepting mortgages. Some of the projects will accept installments.

As for people with not much cash at hand, the Rwanda Housing Authority says that it will introduce an incremental construction mechanism for house ownership. It is constructing houses, which will be given to buyers in unfinished state at less cost. It will be up to the new owner to upgrade the house at own pace.

So hold your cheque book - here are the actual housing projects with all details you may need:

1. Izuba CITY Estate (Government & Private)

Location: Kagugu Batsinda Cell, Kinyinya Sector
Number: 300 apartments
Description: Ground Plus 3-floors, 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms apartment built in different blocks.
Price: 1 bedroom – 41,600,000RWF
2 bedroom – 54,400,000RWF
3 bedroom – 74,400,000RWF
Mode of payment: Three-month instalments
What you should know: The site is located about 10 minutes’ drive from the Kigali Golf Club, Woodlands Supermarket around Mukabuga-Nyarutarama. It will consist of a convenient store, a kindergarten, a waste treatment and ample parking space. The construction has already started and the completion is slated for April 2017.

2. Vision City Estate (Private)

(Plaisir Muzogeye) — (Photo by Plaisir Muzogeye)

Location: Gaculiro, Kinyinya Sector
Number: 4500 housing units
Price: Houses range from $179,000 -- $560,000 (Rwf 145,324,730 and Rwf 454,647,200)
Mode of payment: Three-month instalments
Description: 5 Bedroom luxury villas (A cloakroom, Lounge & dining area, Kitchen & pantry, Auxiliary family lounge, A self-contained domestic workers quarter, 2 car garage)
4 Bedroom luxury villas (4 bedroom & 3 bathrooms, a cloakroom, Lounge & pantry; 2 car garage).
4 Bedroom semi-detached houses (4 bedroom & 3 bathroom, a cloakroom, Lounge & dining area, Kitchen & pantry, 2 car garage)
3 Bedroom semi-detached houses (3 Bedroom, a cloakroom, Lounge & dining area, Kitchen & pantry, 2 car garage)
Observation: will be completed in four phases. Phase one is composed of 504 housing units which will be finished by December 2016.

3. DND - Triangle Real Estate (Private)

dnd-triangle-update — Source: DND - Triangle Real Estate Developers

Location: Nyarutarama Cell, Remera Sector Gasabo District
Number: 40 houses
Price: US$ 90,000 aboutRwf73M
Mode of payment: 3 instalments:
10% contract Signature (Commitment)
40% after installing Roof
50% When Completed
Description: 8 duplex houses in one block. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and an annex with a toilet
What You Need To Know: The Triangle Real Estate is located at 500 meters from Kinyinya- Nyarutarama road. The Eritrean real Estate Company was lucky to secure clients and so far 70 percent of houses sold before the estate is even completed. 20 houses constructed are at finishing stage; 20 others still at initial stage.

4. Kisima Apartment (Private)

Location: Rukatsa Cell-Kigarama Sector
Number: 62 apartments in eight blocks, (One flat 4 floors including ground floor)
Description: 2 & 3 bedrooms, 1 & 2 bathrooms, kitchen; two roofed private parking, general swimming pool; recreational centre.
Price: 136,800$-338,200$ (113,500,000 & 280,706,000 Rwf)
Mode of payment: down payment (cash) or mortgage
What You Need To Know: Kisima Apartment project is located at the top of Nyanza hill sighting Gikondo and Kimihurura high-rise buildings, 150 meters from Kicukiro Centre-Nyanza road; a 15 minute car ride from Kicukiro Sonatubes roundabout.

5. Rebero Hill View (Private)

Location: Bwerankore Cell-Kigarama Sector
Number: 40 duplex houses
Description: Ground plus one floor with 3 bedrooms, bathroom & Kitchen
Price: Rwf50 Million
Mode of payment: Down payment
What You Need To Know: Two-storied houses built at Rebero hillside overlooking Kimisagara and Nyamirambo Sectors in Nyarugenge District is the best place to enjoy the wide view of Kigali City. The estate is situated at 3 kilometers from Gikondo CGM. The newly-completed private polyclinic and private modern school are in the vicinity of Rebero Hill View to ease you accessing school for the kids. The estate owners also indicated the prices could be negotiable at some point.

12. Batsinda housing project(Private)

Location: Kagugu Cell-Kinyinya Sector
Number: 561 dwelling units
Description: Ground and 3 floors with two and three bedrooms
Price: 40 million-45 million
Duration: May 2016-August 2018
What You Need To Know: The Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) housing project dubbed “Batsinda II” is located amid middle class residential houses built in phase I of this project. It is situated 1.5 kilometer away from Kagugu trading center. Preparation of construction site is underway and construction materials are ready at the site.

16. IDP model village (Government)

Location: Ayabaraya Cell-Masaka Sector
Number: 152 housing units
Description: Four in one houses
Price: 36 Million-each block
Mode of payment:Mortgage payment facility
What You Need To Know: Construction was yet to commence as of November 2016, but expropriation of communities on the land is completed. The owners told us that the houses will be ready for occupancy by June 2017. The model village is situated at 15-20 kilometers from Masaka-Kabuga main road, 30 minute car ride on a bumpy un-tarmacked road. Much of the social infrastructure will be established alongside construction.

18. Kinyinya housing project (Government)

Location: Murama Cell-Kinyinya Sector
Number: 200 housing units
Description: Four blocks of apartments with 28 twin houses. Housing development is covering the average of 70% of the total site, whereas the remaining 30% of the site is reserved to public facilities and basic infrastructures, namely road networks, Schools, Health centers, and green spaces.
Mode of payment: Mortgage
What You Need To Know: It is a chosen pilot site for affordable housing development for Government employees located close to former Deutsche Welle (DW) towers, 800 meters from Kabuga Woodlands-DW road. The site area is evaluated to 2.5 hectares that will cover a number of 200 housing units within four blocks of Apartments.