Paragon Property Consultants: Zimmerman Landlord On The Spot For Neglecting Flat

Landlords in Nairobi have become impunious, and being that they can easily bribe County Government officers, they are allowed to operate without following due process. The Nairobi County enforcement department has become one sitting duck, incapable of executing their mandate.

Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Nairobi County Government are bribed to concentrate road projects in specific parts of the County, by the top real-estate firms like Hass Consult, Knight Frank and Cytonn Investments.

It’s the reason why roads in areas like Zimmerman are pathetic, because residents in those neglected areas have refused to rise up and demand for better service. The prosecuting authorities have also turned a blind eye on corrupt practices undertaken by KURA, meant to manipulate land and rent prices to remain high, in areas that the three (3) real-estate prices manage properties.

Until Kenyans wake up, you will forever remain shafted by the old men at KURA, who are on the payroll of people who own and manage properties in Lavington, Kileleshwa, and the likes, so as to concentrate all projects in that vicinity, leaving areas like Umoja, Innercore, Komarok, Ruaka, Zimmerman, Rongai, Kiserian, Syokimau looking like slums.

Kenyans must rise up and call for the immediate arrest of everyone working at KURA beginning with the bosses and corrupt engineers. Style up Nairobians! Take back the power and don’t stomach this bullshit again.

MIREMA HEIGHTS
MINUTES OF TENANTS MEETING HELD ON 13TH DECEMBER 2016 AT MIREMA HEIGHTS PREMISES ZIMMERMAN ESTATE.
MEMBERS PRESENT
ALL TENANTS

To Landlord,

This meeting was held due to the various issues with the tenancy service at Mirema Heights. The tenants have been communicating their grievances with the property management office (Paragon property consultants Ltd) for a long time directly and through the caretaker but none have been addressed. It is now that the tenants have decided to communicate formally to the landlord on their grievances as follows.

WATER ISSUE

This month, tenants were made to pay for water bills. This had not been captured in the tenancy agreement, and as such, the tenants required ample notice for this change to be made. This was not done since the water payment was effected less than a month after the notice. The water bills presented to the tenants are also ambiguous as tenants cannot tell the source of the purported water bills. They have no meter number, account number, official stamp or any unique identifier. The rates used therein are also exaggerated since tenants are charged KES 100 per unit of water, contrary to the Nairobi Water rates of KES 204 for up to 6 units and KES 53 for every additional unit. The alleged consumption is also questionable, since some tenants have been presented with bills of up to 10-11 units of water per month, which is not realistic for a person or two living in a one bedroom house.

Recommendations

Water bills should not be passed to the tenants since this was not part of the tenancy agreement.

If water bills have to be paid by the tenants, this has to be in the usual Nairobi water rates which are known to the public. The tenants should also be able to pay this amount directly to Nairobi Water and not through the property management office. We feel it is dubious, suspicious and manipulative to undermine the gains entrenched under our new constitution of openness, transparency & accountability.

FLOODING IN THE HOUSES

The houses flood during the rainy season. They let in water through the balconies which have no outlet. This causes water to flood the houses (including those upstairs) form the kitchen inwards.

Recommendation

The balconies to be fitted with water outlet pipes to allow water to flow outward and prevent the flooding. The kitchen entrance can also be raised to prevent water from getting in.

PAINT

We would also like to bring to the attention of the landlord that paint on the walls of the houses have chipped so much and the houses look pathetic and old. We have requested for a repaint in some houses which have been badly affected but this has never been effected. Houses continue to be in a dilapidated state and no action is taken.

Recommendation

The houses that are badly affected by chipped paintas forwarded to the caretaker be painted by end month.

KPLC TOKEN DEBT

All the tenants (names with caretaker) were asked to pay a KPLC bill of KES 550, with a promise that they would be refunded. Some tenants were refunded, but most were not.

Recommendation

Have all the tenants who paid the KES 550 reimbursed.

INSECURITY

There has been too much theft going on in the premises, and a few days ago, a thief was found. We however believe that he was not the only one. At the moment, the main entrance gate to the building is not lockable, and this exposes tenants to theft.Recommendations.

Fix the main entrance door
Fix the house doors with locks asa back up to the padlocks we use. This could make it harder for the thief to use master keys on the doors.

If possible, install CCTV camera at the entrance and one at the staircase of every floor to enhance security.

We would like this issues addressed with an ultimatum of 1 month failure to which the tenants will revert to holding monthly rental and not limited to legal redress to ensure justice prevails as per signed original tenancy agreement.

In addition tenants are requesting for an immediate meeting with the management to have their grievances resolved to ensure harmonious/cordial relationship co-exist as per contractual tenancy agreement.

Tenants, Mirema Heights

Cc.
Paragon Property Consultants Ltd
Area Chief (Roysambu/Zimmerman Estate)
Nairobi City Water & Sewerage Company
Rent Restriction Tribunal (RRT) Department-Ministry of Lands & Physical PlaCAning.