General description of the housing situation
Zimbabweans reside in both rural and urban areas. In urban areas, availability includes houses (detached and semi-detached), townhouses, flats, and cottages. Houses need to be constructed out of an approved plan from the respective local authorities. In rural areas, Zimbabweans primarily reside in houses constructed from brick or mud and stick construction with thatch, metal roofs or asbestos. Villages can be as large as 500 inhabitants.
General requirements to buy/rent real estate
In order to purchase or rent real estate, appropriate identification documents are required and include a national registration card, drivers’ licence, valid passport and/or long birth certificate. Buyers with foreign identity and or passports need to prove that they are living legally in the country. With these basic requirements one can buy or rent real estate.
Housing loans are available from banks and must produce employment payslips, bank statements showing income for the past three months, a copy of the title deed, a copy of the approved plan, the signed agreement of sale, an application fee and two quotation from contactors. Bank interest rates vary from 68% to 180% rate over 25 years depending on whether you want the loan for a house purchase, house building, residential purchase and/or house renovations.
Average Prices
House and building stand prices vary from city to city and within the city they vary from suburb to suburb. In Harare Kuwadzana (High density) a 5 roomed house costs approximately US$15,714; a 2 bed-roomed flat in Budiriro (High density) costs approximately US$15,650; a 3 bed-roomed house in Waterfalls (Low density) costs approximately US$51 428.00; low density residential stands in Harare (minimum size range from 2000squre meters) cost approximately US$8.53 per square metre plus one has to put 40% deposit and the pay balance over 3 months; high density residential stands are normally ½ the price of low density; industrial and commercial stands are available at approximately US$8.53 per square metre, one has to put 40% deposit and, pay balance over 3 months and the minimum size range from 4 500square meters to 50 000square meters.
Example of rental fees for a two-roomed apartment/a house in the capital, a big city, rural areas and other places of interest.
Rental fees can be availed on request but the general trend is that one room accommodation in the city centre is three times more than outside the city centre. Accommodation gets cheaper in smaller cities and towns. For example, rental fees in Harare city centre are higher than rental fees in Mutare city centre. In Harare city Masasa Park middle density suburb, a 4 bedrooms house costs approximately US$17.80 per month; in the city centre (Avenues), a 4 room flat costs US$67.80 per month; in the low density suburbs of Avondale, 4 rooms cost US$178.50 per month and in the high density suburbs of Highfield the same 4 rooms would cost US$12.80 per month. In rural areas people do rent houses but it is not a common trend.
Rental Agencies
Various estate agents operate in Zimbabwe and it is advisable to contact them upon return. They have the latest information on available houses to buy and rent across the country. The following estate agents can be contacted for more information:
1. Holland & Redfern, 04 794140 or 04 794143 or 04 725488, www.hollandredfern.co.zw
2. Seeff Properties, 04 495445, www.seeff.co.zw
3. Southbay, 04 730098 or 04 700413/300/193, www.southbay.co.zw
4. Homelux Real estate, www.homelux.org
5. TWRE Zimbabwe, 04 702288/9, www.twre.net
Emergency shelter
In order to access social services or emergency shelter, an identify document showing residency is required. Returning residence can also access shelter as well as public housing provided that they go through the process of registration with the respective Municipal Councils. After registration they are put on a waiting list.
