The headline
The Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) and the City of Kigali have begun securing land in Mpazi and Nyabisindu for rent-to-own homes aimed at low-income households. Tenants pay monthly rent plus a contribution that builds up over time and eventually lets them buy the home.
"Tenants will pay roughly what they currently spend on rent and could own their homes after about 20 years," said Noel Nsanzineza, RHA's Deputy Director General.
Who it is for
- Households earning Rwf100,000 or less a month, about 30% of urban households.
- Households earning between Rwf100,001 and Rwf200,000, about 27% of urban households.
- A home counts as affordable when rent or repayments take no more than 30% of income.
Where the land comes from
In Nyabisindu, residents who occupied 32 hectares will be rehoused on eight, freeing land for affordable homes including rent-to-own units. In Mpazi, 688 homes were completed under the rehousing model in 2025. The city plans 10,000 affordable homes over the next five years.
What it means for renters
For most Kigali households a mortgage is out of reach, so a route from renting to owning matters more than any rate cut. Compare what rentals ask today in homes for rent, and test what a loan would cost with the mortgage calculator.