Most Zimbabwean houses come with a backroom or a cottage. For years, the cottage was seen as guest quarters, or a room for domestic workers. That is changing. Garden flats and cottages are becoming independent rental homes for people who want to live in an established suburb without paying for a whole house.
The logic is easy to follow. A cottage can offer the privacy of a standalone home. It can give you access to a good neighbourhood. In many cases it comes with borehole water, solar power, parking, a garden and security. And it does all this at a lower monthly commitment than a full house.
Propertybook’s cottage rental data shows how broad this market has become. Harare listings place cottage and garden flat rents across a wide range. Our March 2025 market analysis picked out Greendale, Highlands and Marlborough as important areas in the cottage rental market.
For tenants, though, the question is not simply “how much is the rent?” It is “what am I actually getting for the rent?”
What Is Driving Harare’s Cottage Rental Boom?
Several things are pushing cottages up the list.
The first is affordability. Renting a whole house in an established Harare suburb costs a lot more than renting a cottage on the same type of plot. A tenant who does not need three or four bedrooms can get into a desirable neighbourhood without paying for space they will not use.
The second is location. Suburbs such as Greendale, Avondale and Marlborough sit close to good roads, shops, schools and workplaces. Being closer to work or to essential services can make a smaller property more attractive than a bigger home further out.
The third is changing tenant preferences. Power and water reliability now matter as much as square metres. Propertybook listings increasingly highlight boreholes, water tanks, solar systems, prepaid meters and security infrastructure. For many tenants these are no longer luxury extras. They directly affect the cost and convenience of living in a property.
Greendale: Premium Location, Premium Cottage Rents
Greendale is one of Harare’s older suburbs and has a busy cottage and garden flat market. Propertybook currently shows eight cottage and garden flat listings in Greendale. Advertised rents run from roughly US$550 to US$1,300 per month, with a median listing price of about US$800.
As that range shows, there is no single Greendale cottage price. A basic unit sits near the bottom. A larger, newer or better equipped property can command a lot more. One Propertybook listing for a two-bedroom garden flat in Greendale, close to Honeydew Centre, was advertised at US$700 per month. It included municipal water, a water tank and reliable ZESA.
At the top end, Propertybook has listed larger four-bedroom garden flats in Greendale at around US$1,300 per month. Size, location and amenities can push a garden flat well past the suburb’s typical cottage range.
So what does US$700 get you in Greendale? At around that price, expect a two-bedroom unit with practical amenities rather than a luxury residence. That makes Greendale interesting for:
-
Young professionals sharing costs
-
Couples
-
Small families
-
Tenants who put location first
-
Professionals working around Harare’s eastern and northern corridors
The question to ask yourself is whether the extra cost of Greendale is worth it for your daily commute and your access to amenities. If living closer to work saves you real money and time in transport, a higher rent can still make financial sense.
Avondale: Location Comes At A Price
Avondale is another part of Harare’s premium rental market. Current Propertybook listings for Avondale cottages and garden flats start at around US$450. Across the broader Harare North cottage market, the median sits at roughly US$800. So Avondale shows both ends of the picture: it has entry-level stock, and it shows how fast values climb once the product becomes more premium.
One Propertybook Avondale garden flat was advertised at US$1,600 per month. It came with a borehole, solar power, a generator, 24-hour security, internet, a garden and parking. The rent also included a maid and a gardener. That is a completely different product from a basic one-bedroom cottage.
The lesson is simple. Compare the package, not just the bedroom count. A US$1,600 rental that includes utilities, services and backup power should not be compared directly with a US$600 or US$700 unfurnished cottage where you pay for everything yourself.
Marlborough: An Increasingly Attractive Middle Ground
Marlborough is another strong option for cottage tenants. Propertybook’s March 2025 cottage analysis described Marlborough as an emerging market, with unfurnished cottage rents of roughly US$500 to US$900. Current listings show the market can stretch beyond those earlier ranges depending on quality and inclusions.
A two-bedroom Marlborough cottage listed on Propertybook in July 2026 was advertised at US$600 per month. It has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus borehole water, a solar system, a water tank and a solar geyser.
Another one-bedroom furnished cottage in Old Marlborough was advertised at US$700 per month. That rent included servicing, laundry, gas, electricity, water, internet and Netflix. The property also had a borehole, a solar geyser and an inverter.
That distinction matters. Two properties can both cost US$700 a month. One leaves you paying for electricity, water and internet on top. The other includes them. The advertised rent alone does not tell the whole story.
The Monthly Cost Is More Than The Advertised Rent
This is the most important lesson for anyone entering Harare’s cottage market. A property advertised at US$600 per month is not necessarily a US$600-a-month lifestyle.
Before you sign a lease, check what the rent includes. Extra costs can include:
-
Electricity
-
Water
-
Internet
-
Security fees
-
Refuse collection
-
Levies
-
Gardening
-
Cleaning
-
Gas
-
Generator or solar contributions
-
Parking
The difference adds up. Take two example cottages:
-
Cottage A: US$600 rent plus US$80 for utilities and internet, so US$680 a month.
-
Cottage B: US$700 rent, with water, electricity and internet included, so US$700 a month.
At first glance Cottage A looks cheaper. In reality the gap is only US$20. This is why you should work out your total monthly housing cost instead of comparing rents in isolation.
What Should Tenants Look For In A Cottage?
Water. Ask whether the property has municipal water, borehole water, a tank, or a mix. If there is a borehole, ask whether the cottage has direct access and whether water is shared with the main house. A water tank is useful, but find out its capacity and how often it is refilled.
Electricity. Ask whether the cottage has its own prepaid meter. If it does not, find out how electricity is split between the main house and the cottage. If there is solar, ask exactly what the system runs. A landlord saying a property “has solar” does not mean the whole cottage works normally during a power cut.
Privacy. A cottage can be beautifully finished and still offer very little privacy if it shares a yard with the landlord’s family. Before signing, check on:
-
Separate entrance
-
Private outdoor space
-
Parking arrangements
-
Shared laundry areas
-
Shared gates
-
Noise
-
Visitors
-
Pets
-
Access to the main house
For many cottage tenants, privacy is the main reason for choosing this kind of home in the first place.
Security. Ask about the gate, fencing, lighting, alarms and security arrangements. If the cottage sits in the same yard as the landlord’s house, find out whether it has its own entrance and whether you get your own keys or remotes.
Internet. If you work remotely, network quality matters as much as water and power. Check fibre or mobile broadband availability before signing. Do not assume that because a suburb has good coverage, every cottage on every street gets the same service.
Furnished Or Unfurnished?
This is a big decision. Furnished cottages appeal to expatriates, diaspora visitors, corporate tenants and professionals who need temporary housing. Most furnished properties carry a premium.
Propertybook’s market analysis found a clear gap between furnished and unfurnished cottage rentals, especially in high-demand areas. The question is whether that premium is worth it for you.
If you already own furniture and plan to stay for several years, an unfurnished cottage usually makes more financial sense. If you are moving to Harare for a short stint, paying more for a furnished unit can work out cheaper than buying furniture, appliances and household equipment.
How Long Do You Intend To Stay?
Your intended rental period should shape the property you choose. For a six-month stay, location and convenience matter more than decorating a home to your taste. For a three-year tenancy, things like storage, parking, outdoor space, water reliability and neighbourhood convenience become far more important.
Understand the lease terms before you move in. Always pay attention to:
-
Deposit requirements
-
Notice periods
-
Rental increases
-
Maintenance responsibilities
-
Utility payments
-
Subletting restrictions
-
Pet policies
-
Renewal arrangements
-
Early termination clauses
Propertybook tip: do not rely on verbal promises. Put every important agreement in writing.
What Does The Cottage Boom Mean For Property Owners?
The growth of cottage rentals is not only a tenant story. For homeowners with enough land and the right permissions, a well-designed cottage can turn unused space into an income-producing asset. Seen annually, the numbers add up:
-
US$500 per month = US$6,000 per year
-
US$600 per month = US$7,200 per year
-
US$700 per month = US$8,400 per year
-
US$800 per month = US$9,600 per year
These are gross figures. They come before vacancies, maintenance, taxes, owner-paid utilities, management costs and the cost of building or financing the cottage.
How Landlords Should Think About Yield
Say a landlord spends US$60,000 building a cottage and rents it for US$600 per month. Gross annual rental income is US$7,200. The simple gross rental yield works out like this:
US$7,200 ÷ US$60,000 × 100 = 12 percent.
That is gross yield, not the landlord’s actual return. Once you pay for water, electricity, repairs, security, maintenance and vacant periods, the net return is lower. That difference matters when you are deciding whether building a cottage is worth it.
Location Remains King
Current Propertybook listings show a consistent pattern. Tenants pay for convenience. A cottage near shopping centres, major roads, schools, business districts and employment centres can command more than a similar property in a less connected spot.
Greendale’s access to established amenities, Avondale’s northern Harare position and Marlborough’s links to major transport routes all feed their appeal. But tenants should still count the cost of getting to and from the property.
A US$500 cottage that needs costly daily transport can cost more overall than a US$650 cottage closer to work. Over a full year, transport costs add up fast.
The Bottom Line For Tenants
Harare’s cottage market is becoming an important part of the city’s rental landscape. It gives tenants another way into established suburbs without committing to the cost of a whole house.
But the cheapest cottage is not automatically the best deal. A US$450 unit with unreliable water, no parking and costly transport can be a worse buy than a US$650 unit. Not if that second unit has reliable water, solar backup, secure parking and a good location.
The smartest approach is to compare total monthly cost, location, privacy, utilities, security and lease conditions.
For landlords, the numbers explain why cottages are attracting attention. A well-positioned unit can produce several thousand dollars in annual gross rental income. But the success of the investment still depends on build quality, proper planning, tenant demand, operating costs and realistic pricing.
As Harare’s housing needs keep changing, the humble backyard cottage is becoming something bigger. It is now a flexible piece of the city’s rental economy.
Note for readers: rental prices quoted here are asking prices observed in Propertybook listings. They change as properties are let, withdrawn or replaced. Always verify current availability, inclusions and lease conditions before making a decision.
Sources And References
-
Propertybook. “Harare’s Cottage Rental Market: Insights And Strategies.” Analysis of the cottage market, rental ranges and demand areas. www.propertybook.co.zw. Accessed August 2026.
-
Propertybook. Greendale cottage and garden flat listings. Current listing range and suburb-level rental information. www.propertybook.co.zw. Accessed August 2026.
-
Propertybook. Avondale cottage and garden flat listings. Current examples and suburb-level rental information. www.propertybook.co.zw. Accessed August 2026.
-
Propertybook. Avondale one-bedroom cottage, a current US$450 per month example with water and power features. www.propertybook.co.zw. Accessed August 2026.
-
Propertybook. Marlborough two-bedroom cottage, a current US$600 per month example with water and power features. www.propertybook.co.zw. Accessed August 2026.
-
Propertybook. Marlborough furnished cottage, a US$700 per month furnished and serviced example. www.propertybook.co.zw. Accessed August 2026.
