adminBrenda Phiri Lifestyle Writer
House hunting in Harare can be strenuous; there is no doubt about that. There is always that scramble for the nicer lodgings that are somehow getting scarcer by the month. We are talking about presentable houses or apartments that are presentable, neatly tiled or carpeted, freshly painted and with neat built in cupboards.
Some on the other hand prefer space, beautiful views and yards, pre-cast walls that are intact. Getting this kind of place at a reasonable price — reasonable by your standards is like hitting the jackpot.
It gets tricky at times because you do not always get what you want. In worst circumstances you get the extreme opposite, which are dirty and dilapidated apartments.
Only last week, I got caught up in a serious discussion with a friend over the issue.
After getting married in the traditional ceremony she moved in with her husband but instead of enjoying her new home, she kept complaining over different stuff.
It was not the dwelling was a hovel but she could not get over the old and foul smelling fitted carpet. The kitchen and bathroom tiles were old, fittings were not all working and a host of other nitty-gritty she kept complaining about.
“At least it’s close to town and the walls are clean,” she had written to me in an email a few days after moving in.
It seemed she had settled in as she didn’t have many options.
Just as I was thinking I had heard the last of the imperfections she was at it again.
“What if I renovate it? It is not that I have lots of money and yes I’m only renting but can’t I do something?” She wrote again as we were chatting on Facebook the other day.
As I was thinking of an answer for her, it got me thinking. Some of us have asked ourselves that question, one way or the other.
How do we work our way around such situations?
A landlady Ms Magaya, who owns flat in Greendale, gave her opinion which almost burst my bubble.
“I am an old woman and I am not employed any more. My flat is the sole income generating means I have left. As much as I want to spend money to make it a little paradise for its occupants I can’t. It is a hustle as it is, fixing broken windows and taking care of the plumbing. I can’t afford anything extra,” she said.
True to her sentiments, the economic hardships currently being faced in the country can at times prevent property owners from “pimping out” lodgings.
There are other contributing factors also, according to Mr and Mrs Tembo from Belvedere.
“You get tired of renovating property if you have been in the trade for as long as we have. You make an effort in giving apartments a face lift. French doors, fancy windows and all but most of the time tenants abuse things. They leave you with bills to foot and taking legal steps is lengthy and costly,” she said.
It is a given that a lot of money is pumped out in upgrading an apartment. Some tenants gave their version of the case as far as renovation was concerned.
“What these landlords do not realise is that they need to spend money to make money. It’s true that these flats are their cash-making machines but renovating them adds value to the property. If they invest in keeping it intact and doing a bit extra, the property also lasts longer. That is money to them,” he said.
It is also important to realise that renovation comes in different forms. There are minor renovations that can be made to property. These vary from house to house and may not cost much money.
There are also other major renovations that can cost an arm and a leg. They include things like extending rooms, erecting pre-cast walls among others.
How then do these two parties reach a consensus? Linda, 29-year-old resident from Highlands is particular about the apartments and has found a way to work around renovating lodgings.
“It all boils down to the relationship one has with his or her landlord. I sat my landlord down and stated my suggestions on areas that needed renovation in my flat. When she said she could not afford it, I used my money and removed portions from my rents for five months,” she said.
She suggested that landlords can also make renovations one step at a time to ensure they do not part with too much money at once.
“In other cases, they can only do what they can afford,” she said.
Experts say that it is wise to have written agreements on terms of payment if two parties agree on Linda’s suggestion.
An estate agency manager said that tenants have a legal right to demand that a property owner do renovations and repairs when the problems are compromising the quality of the accommodation and taking it below its stated market value:
“For example, burst pipes, malfunctioning electricity fittings and roof leaks are all the responsibility of the property owner and they must be attended to urgently or before a new tenant moves in. A sitting tenant can get the repairs done and deduct the costs from their rentals if they have notified the property owner in writing and the latter is not willing to get the work done. But this is a last resort.
“On the other hand, tenants are legally liable for damage that they cause like burnt sockets, dismantled doors and broken windows. But the property owner must capture all that in the lease.
“But when it comes to cosmetic changes like a tenant wanting a different coloured wall or something like that, it will be at their own expense and has no effect on the lease arrangements.”
So at the end of the day, I guess a rented property will always be that, no matter how much you aim to make it home. Perhaps it is better to rent more a more modest apartment and save your money to get your own place where you can be as fancy as you wish, no matter its location.
Online Reporter