The attractive option for young tenants

What you need to know:

  • Young tenants consider a developer who appreciates their needs and personalities, says Rayhab Gakuhi, a sales and marketing assistant manager with Capital Realty
  • Female tenants, she says, will prefer apartments that have bigger kitchen spaces, roomy lounges and acres of master bedroom, while most of the men will are keen on a bigger parking space, the lounge, the master bedroom and the compound
  • Young tenants, especially those in their first jobs, are looking forward to living in apartments serviced by estate managers and caretakers

The interiors and designs of modern apartments are changing to suit the needs of apartment tenants most of whom are below 35 years.

These tenants consider a developer who appreciates their needs and personalities, says Rayhab Gakuhi, a sales and marketing assistant manager with Capital Realty.

Female tenants, she says, will prefer apartments that have bigger kitchen spaces, roomy lounges and acres of master bedroom, while most of the men will are keen on a bigger parking space, the lounge, the master bedroom and the compound.

Twenty-seven-year-old Emily Mokeira lives in a studio apartment in South C’s Venus Plaza Apartments, which have the right space for her cabinet-fitted kitchenette. Hot water in the bathroom and in-built wardrobes add to her satisfaction.

This is not the same for 28-year-old Mwangi Gatere, who says his two-bedroom Guango apartment in Uthiru does not have enough space for a sleep-over with friends. He would have preferred a spacious living room but this has been compensated for by the big compound where he can throw a party.

Young tenants, especially those in their first jobs, are looking forward to living in apartments serviced by estate managers and caretakers. Emily, who is renting for the first time, says she will never rent an apartment without an estate agent or a caretaker.

When she settled for her current abode, she did not know how the apartment was professionally managed, but on her inquiry visit, she was ushered into a clean, well maintained compound with well painted walls and a clean apartment building.

Levelled grass and designated areas for hanging laundry to dry were also a plus.

Before taking up tenancy, she had visited and had “sleep overs” with friends in their apartments. One friend’s apartment stuck out like a sore thumb.

She lives in an apartment in Zimmerman, along Thika Road, that does not have a caretaker or a manager. They have to device their own means of getting water when there is a shortage and live for days on end without power.

When there is an electrical fault, the landlord takes his sweet time.

Sometimes their landlord will blame their woes on defaulting tenants.

Though Emily does not mind living in an apartment that houses families with small children, it is not the case for most young male tenants.

Twenty-nine-year-old Martin Njeru, a marketing consultant who lives in a two-bedroom apartment in Langata’s Park Estate, had an option to live in an apartment with a big, green compound and neighbours with families, but he prefers his current digs, occupied mostly by young unmarried professionals.

Mwangi, though, prefers the more “homely” apartment with families with children with whim he can enjoy quality time.

He likes the location of his apartment building because it is near social amenities such as schools, churches, shopping centres such as T-Mall, Nakumatt and Uchumi, and says it is an area that is lively for young people who want to enjoy night life without the fear of being robbed or attacked on their way home.

The freedom of enjoying a hassle-free nightlife is a luxury 26-year-old Jane Chege, a young landlady in Kasarani’s Chieko estate, does not enjoy.

Though she is happy with her home, she likes the warm ambiance and active environments in the developments coming up along Mombasa and Lang’ata, roads served by supermarkets and entertainment centres.

Jane and her husband own three single-room rental houses that are mainly occupied by singles between the ages of 20 and 30 and on their first jobs.

These tenants share the same compound. Though she does not like the distance they have to walk to the main road, her big compound is a plus that allows for a front porch garden, a beautiful lawn and a play area for her two-year-old son.

Rayhab says most tenants look for apartment buildings near the main road since most of them have an active nightlife and leave early for work.

Martin, Emily and Mwangi also say they would not live in an apartment that restricts their movement to work, to entertainment spots and distances where their friends cannot visit, especially after a night out.

Martin’s apartment is convenient for him as it is not far from the Central Business District and from his place of work along Ng’ong road. The matatu terminus is not far from the apartment and taxis are available for residents 24/7.

Emily agrees that the apartment’s distance to the main road and to the bus terminus attracted her to the apartment. She can come home from work at 11:00 pm without the fear of being mugged.

Rayhab says that modern day developers have had to develop houses that suit the market.

A developer who did not wish to be named says that he developed the first phase of his development with the regular closed plan kitchen that did not sell as he had expected. He developed the second phase with the open plan kitchen and dining that sold out.

Another factor that developers have had to consider is the market’s taste in choice of colours. Houses shouldn’t have screaming colour schemes.

Factors that Nairobi’s young tenants consider when looking to rent a house

1. Open plan kitchens. It’s the in thing. Thanks to sitcoms and soap operas for popularising them

2. Acres of lounge because it becomes a bedroom when a sleep-over happens

3. A minimum staggering distance from the shopping mall or shopping centre

4. Internet-ready wiring since Facebook and Twitter are just as important as water

5. A swimming pool. Never mind it’s communal. It shows you have class

6. A stone-throw’s distance from the main road. Bad news for muggers.

7. Minimum noise from children although some tenants could do with a “familish” environment

8, Acres of master en suite, which is a rarity in most flats