Rwanda’s Affordable Housing Programme

What the Government provides

The Government supports affordable housing projects with land, infrastructure such as roads, water and power, or both. A developer applies to a national committee, which assesses the project with the Rwanda Housing Authority and approves the support. The rules are in the Prime Minister’s Instructions N° 002/03 of 21 October 2022, published in the Official Gazette.

What a project must show

• It meets the definition of an affordable housing project.
• Each home meets the criteria for an affordable unit.
• It offers homes of different types and sizes.
• Where possible it uses building materials made in Rwanda.
• It is designed on green building principles.
• Its contracts favour Rwandan suppliers and contractors, especially small and medium firms.
• There is financially viable demand for homes at that location.

Who can buy the homes

A buyer of a home in a government-supported project must be a Rwandan citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, with a net income under the limit set in the programme’s procedures manual. Buyers register their interest with the Rwanda Housing Authority, which keeps a list of eligible buyers and shares it with banks and developers. First-time buyers can finance the home with a Gira Iwawe mortgage.

Tax and zoning

An investor registered with RDB in affordable housing pays corporate income tax at 15%, against the standard 28%. In Kigali, the zoning regulations of the 2050 Master Plan ask larger residential developments to include affordable homes, about 15% of the units, and reward them with extra building rights.