Residents of BRIC Apartments in Nairobi’s Kilimani and Lavington areas have raised complaints over poor living conditions, alleging that the building’s design and construction defects have made their homes uninhabitable.
The apartments, which were marketed as modern and comfortable residences, have reportedly failed to meet basic standards, with tenants citing extreme cold, inadequate insulation, and lack of responsiveness from management.
One tenant, a young mother, moved into the building hoping to secure a safe environment for her family.
However, she soon found that her apartment, particularly house number C091 on the top floor, was plagued by an unrelenting chill, with drafty walls and rattling windows that offered little protection against Nairobi’s cold nights.
She alleged that the conditions in the apartment contributed to her infant’s declining health, forcing her to seek alternative accommodation.
The apartment complex is owned by a landlord identified as Liu Wenfu, who is associated with Endeavours Construction Company.
The firm has reportedly been linked to multiple construction projects in the area, some of which have also been the subject of similar complaints.
Despite repeated requests from tenants to address the heating and insulation issues, there has been little to no response from management, leaving residents to endure the difficult conditions or move out at their own expense.
Several tenants have also reported difficulties in reclaiming their security deposits upon vacating the premises.
In the case of the young mother, despite seeking a refund after vacating due to the living conditions, her requests were allegedly ignored.
Other former tenants have made similar claims, citing months of unanswered appeals and a lack of accountability from the landlord.
The complaints about BRIC Apartments come amid broader concerns about Nairobi’s real estate sector, where rapid construction has often been accompanied by allegations of poor workmanship and minimal regulatory oversight.
The growing number of disputes between tenants and landlords over building quality and tenancy agreements highlights the challenges facing renters in a competitive housing market.
While tenants continue to demand better conditions and fair treatment, cases such as those at BRIC Apartments underscore the difficulties in enforcing housing standards and holding landlords accountable.
The situation remains unresolved, with affected tenants left to navigate legal and financial hurdles as they seek suitable housing elsewhere.
“Hi Nyakundi. Thanks for the work you are doing. I wanted to share my experience with Bric Apartments in Kilimani because I feel that people need to know what is happening there. I moved into the apartment a few months ago, believing it was a decent place for my child and me. But from the first night, I realised that something was very wrong. The cold inside the apartment was unbearable, and no matter how many blankets I used, the air remained freezing. My baby started developing a persistent cough, and I became increasingly worried about his health. I reached out to the landlord, Mr. Liu Wenfu, to report the issue. At first, he was polite and assured me that something would be done. But weeks passed, and nothing changed. I kept following up, but my concerns were either ignored or met with vague excuses. I even spoke to other tenants, and they had the same complaints—cold, poorly insulated apartments and landlords who did not care. When I finally decided that I could not stay any longer, I informed Mr. Liu that I was leaving and asked for my deposit back. He became evasive and stopped responding to my messages. After weeks of trying, it became clear that he had no intention of refunding my money. Many other tenants have faced the same issue. They leave because of poor conditions, only to realise they will never get their money back. It feels like a well-planned scam. It is frustrating that nothing is being done about this. These landlords take advantage of tenants because they know that people do not have the time or resources to fight them. I just want others to be warned so that they do not go through what I did. Thank you for listening and for exposing such issues.”
