Rethinking the tenant eviction process in Harare, Zimbabwe
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the lessee eviction process in Zimbabwe in order to suggest possible ways of improving this process that has become a rutted road characterised by a litany of hiccups.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is guided by the qualitative methodology. Data were mainly collected from property managers operating in the real property market in Harare using in-depth interviews. Analysis of data was done through content analysis.
Findings
It emerged from the study that the eviction process in Zimbabwe is fraught with impediments and expenses that are sometimes exasperating to property owners and investors. The current eviction regulations favour the lessees at the expense of lessors thus niggling lessees have aggravated the already protracted process by unnecessary appeals.
Research limitations/implications
The paper only focuses on residential property management and eviction of legal lessees due to non-payment of rentals.
Practical implications
The rent regulations should be reviewed in order to create a fair legal system that protects the rights of both the lessors and lessees in Zimbabwe.
Originality/value
The perpetual decline of the economy in Zimbabwe has crippled lessees’ ability to pay rentals. Yet, it has also become intricate to evict defaulting lessees thereby causing loss of income to rental housing investors. Thus, the paper challenges the protracted eviction processes in the real property industry that have prejudiced property owners and scared away potential rental housing investors that are greatly needed to boost the rental market.
Keywords
Citation
Gambe, T.R. (2018), "Rethinking the tenant eviction process in Harare, Zimbabwe", Property Management, Vol. 36 No. 3, pp. 252-277. https://doi.org/10.1108/PM-12-2016-0069
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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