Rwanda has approved new charges for property valuation, with owners of ordinary single-family homes set to pay at least Rwf90,000 to have their property professionally assessed. The new fees, approved by the National Land Authority (NLA), set out how much licensed property valuers should charge for assessing homes, land, commercial buildings, hotels, factories and other assets. They replace the fee structure introduced in 2018. For an ordinary single-family home, meaning a house intended for one household rather than several separate households, the minimum valuation fee is Rwf90,000 if the house has only a ground floor or G1 . A two-level home, consisting of a ground floor and one upper floor or G+1, will attract a minimum fee of Rwf200,000. Each additional floor adds Rwf50,000. The new fees structure comes with terminology that many might find confusing for ordinary homeowners. A building described as G+1 simply means it has a ground floor plus one upper floor, while G+2 means a ground floor plus two upper floors. The distinction between single-family and multi-family homes is also about how many households the property accommodates, rather than whether a family is small or extended. A single-family home is designed for one household, while a multi-family property contains separate residential units or spaces for several households, as is common with apartment-style housing. For multi-family residential buildings, the minimum fee starts at Rwf300,000 for a building with a ground floor and one upper floor. A building with a ground floor and two upper floors has a minimum fee of Rwf500,000, while buildings with more than two upper floors have no stated minimum fee under the new structure. The residential charges are also based on the size of the building. The approved structure sets a rate of Rwf1,000 per square metre of built-up area, subject to the applicable minimum fee. The new charges also cover condominiums. A single-family condominium unit occupying one floor will cost at least Rwf90,000 to value, while a two-floor unit will cost Rwf200,000. Each additional floor adds Rwf50,000. For commercial properties, the minimum fee for a single-storey building is Rwf150,000. A commercial building with a ground floor and one upper floor costs at least Rwf200,000, plus Rwf1,000 for every square metre of built-up area. Each additional floor attracts another Rwf100,000. Owners of hotels will pay according to their star rating. The minimum valuation fee is Rwf1 million for a one-star hotel, Rwf2 million for a two-star hotel, Rwf4 million for a three-star hotel, Rwf5 million for a four-star hotel and Rwf8 million for a five-star hotel. These fees are also subject to the Rwf1,000-per-square-metre rate. Landowners will also be affected by the new structure. Valuation of vacant land measuring less than one hectare will cost Rwf70,000, while land measuring one hectare or more will attract a minimum fee of Rwf100,000 plus Rwf7 per square metre. The same charges apply to agricultural, farm and forest land. For specialised valuation work, such as expropriation, insurance and dispute resolution, the approved rates are different. Land alone is charged at Rwf200 per square metre, while land with crops and trees costs Rwf250 per square metre. A counter-valuation report has a flat fee of Rwf500,000. John Mugisha, chairperson of the Institute of Real Property Valuers (IRPV), said the new charges were necessary because the previous fee structure had remained unchanged since 2018 despite rising costs. He said increases in transport, rent, goods and property prices had been considered when setting the new charges. “We were still using the valuation fee structure of 2018,” Mugisha said, explaining that the revised fees were intended to ensure that valuation costs were fairly covered. The new structure applies across Rwanda to valuation assignments in both the public and private sectors. All the listed rates are tax-inclusive. The Institute is also moving to tackle cases of people impersonating licensed valuers, overcharging clients or deliberately undervaluing properties. Mugisha said a system is being developed through which property owners will be able to request services from licensed valuers and see the approved charges. Valuers found guilty of malpractice could be suspended temporarily, while repeat offenders could face permanent suspension. Under the new arrangement, every valuer is also required to provide one free valuation service each year to an indigent person who can provide certified proof of vulnerability.
