| The Ethiopian rental home market is vast, but is | | | | homes. These are local agents who know the |
| not very streamlined or standardized as in many | | | | neighborhoods and who basically mediate between |
| parts of the world. In Ethiopia, one can find all | | | | renters and landlords. A great deal of negotiation |
| sorts of homes for rent, from large, impressive | | | | is involved in renting homes. First quote prices can |
| houses, to small rooms inside very shabby | | | | be substantially higher than the final prices. So, in |
| houses. Rents can range from as low as a few | | | | many cases, one has to be prepared to negotiate |
| Ethiopian birr per month, to tens of thousands of | | | | with the landlord. Typically, the “Delalas” |
| Ethiopian birr per month. | | | | are paid commissions by both the renter and |
| Home rentals in Ethiopia are predominantly in the | | | | landlord on equal split basis. The fees can range |
| form single family homes and rooming houses | | | | from 10% to 100% of the rental price per |
| inside people’s homes. It is not very common | | | | month, depending on how long the Ethiopian home |
| to find modern apartment complexes that house | | | | is rented for. |
| many tenants in one place. If there are a few of | | | | So, who rents homes in Ethiopia? All kinds of |
| these types, they are owned by the government | | | | people rent homes in Ethiopia, including young |
| and are targeted at certain people, such as the | | | | people (single and married) who haven’t yet |
| military or civil service employees. | | | | owned their own homes, students coming from |
| The more modern Ethiopian homes are typically | | | | out of state for study, day laborers who need a |
| compounded homes that include a main living | | | | small place to retire for the night, Ethiopians |
| quarter, including living room, bedrooms, | | | | coming from abroad to visit families, foreigners |
| bathrooms and kitchen. Inside such a compound, | | | | coming to Ethiopia for work or visit, etc. |
| one will also find service quarters where maids | | | | Ethiopians coming from abroad and foreigners |
| and other service people live in. And in many | | | | coming to Ethiopia for various reasons typically |
| cases, one or more of the service quarter rooms | | | | rent homes in some of the upscale neighborhoods |
| may also be rented for extra income. | | | | in Ethiopia, such as Bole in Addis Ababa. They opt |
| Due to the dramatic home price appreciation that | | | | for relatively expensive houses that rent from |
| occurred during this decade, rental prices have | | | | 10,000 birr per month to prices many times more |
| also gone up with it. What used to rent for 1000 | | | | than this. In some cases, the owners stay inside |
| birr per month is now commanding ten times as | | | | the compound during the rental period, living inside |
| much. Also, due to the constant influx of workers | | | | the service quarters. However, this must be |
| from the country side and smaller towns into the | | | | disclosed and agreed upon before hand so both |
| cities, there may be shortage of rental homes in | | | | the renter and landlord know about it. |
| some neighborhoods in Ethiopia and especially | | | | To see the latest listing of residential and |
| during busy seasons of the year. And, oftentimes, | | | | commercial properties for rent or sale, please visit |
| this leads into higher asking prices for rental | | | | is the largest real estate portal in Ethiopia and lists |
| homes. | | | | hundreds of homes for sale and rent at any given |
| Rental home brokerage business in Ethiopia is not | | | | time. Anyone can register and post properties for |
| that well developed. Buyers and sellers rely on | | | | sale or rent for free. |
| agents locally called “Delalas” for renting | | | | |