Finding the Perfect Apartment for Rent in Addis Ababa – Some Helpful Tips

Due to the enormous economic opportunities Addis Ababa has to offer, the Ethiopian capital has emerged as a major hotspot in the entire East Africa. Well-paying NGO and UN jobs, prestigious international business careers in the world’s biggest corporations that are eyeing to penetrate the country’s huge market, and rapid urbanization are attracting more and more people to the city, which has made it one of the most populated and vibrant cities in the Horn of Africa. Besides the economic aspect, the diplomatic status of the city has made it a centre of attraction. For this reason Addis is attracting people from all over the world, which in turn has caused a construction boom in residential real estate in the last two decades. One cannot walk more than a couple of blocks without seeing newly built apartments for rent in Addis Ababa, which is necessary to accommodate the huge influx of both domestic and international migrants. However finding the perfect apartment that suits your personal needs can still be a bit tricky.

So if you are one of the adventurous people who have decided to move to Addis Ababa to explore the numerous opportunities and lead a comfy life here, you must first decide whether you want to consider taking an apartment for rent in Addis Ababa or lease a house in the city. If you choose to lease an apartment, then take a look at the few tips below to help you find the best apartment for lease in Addis Ababa.

Education & School

If you are planning to move to Addis Ababa with your family, one of the most important things you need to take care of pretty much before anything else is finding good schools for your children. The choice of school affects the selection of the place where you want to rent an apartment in Addis Ababa. You can find a handful of British, American, French, Greek, Italian, Swedish, and German schools in the city to choose from. Some of the best and most popular schools in Addis Ababa include The International Community School of Addis Ababa (ICS), Bingham Academy, Sandford International School, Cambridge Academy, LyseeGebremariam French School and the German Embassy School.

Lease Agreement

If you are thinking of renting an apartment in Addis Ababa, you need to be prepared to pay rent for 6 to 12 months in advance and hence you need to plan accordingly. Generally, the lease period lies in between 1 and 3 years. You need to do thorough research regarding the lease and tenancy agreement before leasing an apartment in Addis Ababa. For example, you have to ensure that the lease contract you sign allows you to terminate it by giving 2 to 3 months advance notice.

Proper & Timely Maintenance

Usually the apartments for rent in Addis Ababa are recently built and hence are well furnished and in good condition. When you opt for renting an apartment in Addis Ababa one advantage you get is that most of the apartment complexes have their own maintenance staff to deal with various maintenance issues including electrical and plumbing issues. Some even have 24 hour emergency on-call maintenance service for fixing the problem whenever you need.

Security of the Property & the Neighbourhood

Another essential tip for you here is that you must pay special attention to the property’s security and safety features when taking an apartment on rent in Addis Ababa. Make sure to check if the apartment for lease in Addis Ababa that you want to take has all the necessary safety and security features in place or not. Look for apartments with high quality security doors, a buzzer systems, fire hoses & extinguishers, emergency exits, metal bars on ground floor windows, high perimeter walls, 24/7 security services, and likewise. Along with that, check if these features are functioning correctly and are up to the international standard.

Parking Lot 

Parking Lot should be one of your most essential priorities, especially if you own a vehicle. Street parking is not so easy to find. Even if you do find one, it is not safe to park your car on the street overnight. So when looking for an apartment for rent in Addis Ababa, check if they have a parking lot or not. Most landlords provide each tenant with only one allocated parking spot but some can offer an additional parking spot for an additional monthly fee in case you have more than one car.  

Gym & Spa 

If staying in shape is very important to you or members of your family, you may need to pay a little more in terms of monthly but you can lease apartments in Addis Ababa that have such facilities within their premises. If you find a decent apartment you like but does not have such facilities, look and see if there is a good hotel nearby. The best hotels in Addis Ababa always have good health clubs with reasonable packages. If you find such apartment for rent in Kazanchis or Bole, you can workout at one of the many five star hotels that are concentrated in the two popular neighbourhoods.  

Shopping & Entertainment  

If you are into shopping, eating out and enjoying the nightlife, avoid renting apartments in Addis Ababa’s peripheral neighbourhoods although rental prices are quite low in those areas. Try to find a nice apartment for rent in Bole or Kazanchis.   

Author Information: 

This article was written was first published at the Ethiopian Properties’ website (https://www.ethiopianproperties.com/). Ethiopian Properties is a firm that provides coordinated real estate services in Addis Ababa and acrossEthiopia. Whether you are a local or a member of the expat community in Addis Ababa, they can help you find the perfect apartment for rent in Addis Ababa.