Finding a house in Nairobi can be an exciting step, mostly for those moving out on their own for the first time. The idea of getting your own personal space and independence is incredibly appealing prior to house hunting.
However, the reality is often far from smooth. What starts as a hopeful search, can quickly turn to an emotionally and financially strenuous activity. In truth, house hunting in Kenya can be extremely draining.
One of the biggest risks arises when dealing with house rental agents, who are more often than not, the first point of contact when searching for a place to call home.
Even before setting a foot into a potential house, there is a chance of falling victim to fraud as some agents demand viewing fees for properties that may not even exist. On average, these agents and property caretakers will demand around Sh2,500 before showing you any available houses.
What starts as an exciting search for a new place can quickly turn into a gloomy, expensive sightseeing tour, where you pay just to look without any guarantee of moving into the place.
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Fortunately, resourceful Kenyans particularly in the middle-class, have found a house hunting loophole to exploit. They are making the process easier by turning to social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and Telegram to find good rental options while avoiding unnecessary costs.
Bizna Kenya explored some of these groups where Kenyans have chosen to share available rental housing options among themselves, and inviting each other for visits. When someone views a house that doesn’t match their preferences, they share pictures in the group for others who might be interested.
This peer-to-peer approach has not only drastically reduced the reliance on rental agents but also kept money in their pockets. Landlords have also joined these groups, posting images of vacant rental units and eliminating the need for middlemen.
As the trend picks up the pace, what was once a thriving business in real estate agency may soon find itself on the cusp of obsolescence. Despite the shallow benefits to this new digital house hunting format, it bears numerous deep-seated drawbacks
The most pronounced disadvantage would be Kenyans becoming more gullible and susceptible to con and scam attacks. Even so, this new community-driven effort for house networking is at its early stages, where finding a house is no longer a personal journey, but a means to help others get a place to live.
