Accommodation in Angola

When Angola’s oil boom began, housing developments sprung up quickly to cater to the many expats moving to Luanda for work. As expats in Angola are typically high earners, these developments are often luxurious with high-end amenities.

Most expat accommodation in Angola is found in Luanda, in compounds south of the city. With high demand and rental rates, finding a place to live in Angola can be frustrating, but most companies assist their employees with finding and paying for housing.

Types of accommodation in Angola

If you’re working for a large oil corporation, as is the case with most expats in Angola, you’ll likely live in an employer-sponsored compound. These housing estates offer a good quality of life with open space and high security. Many also have amenities such as swimming pools, tennis courts and shops.

Power outages and water shortages are the norm in Angola, so it’s essential that you ensure you have access to backup generators and water tanks. Safety remains a prominent concern for expats moving to Angola. Home burglaries, carjackings, and robberies are common. Fortunately, most compounds offer secure living with access control and security guards.

Furnished vs unfurnished

Both furnished and unfurnished accommodation can be found in Angola’s capital city, Luanda, which is where you will likely be based. If you’re staying in the country only for a short while, you should consider renting furnished accommodation rather than bearing the cost of shipping their things to Angola and back home again.

Those who would like to buy furniture can find great bargains from fellow expats selling off their furnishings in Angola before leaving the country at the end of their assignment. If you’re staying in Luanda on a short-term contract, you’ll likely be housed in one of the city-centre hotels or serviced apartments. These are generally upmarket, but the quality of services varies.

Short lets

Short-let accommodation is largely available in the form of hotels and some serviced apartments. With the introduction of platforms such as Airbnb, it’s become easier to rent private rooms or unique waterfront rentals. The cost for these typically includes all utilities and is usually at a lower cost than hotel rooms, which can be quite steep in Angola.

Finding accommodation in Angola

You’ll likely find that employers often take care of the house search for expats moving to Angola for work. If you’re going through the process by yourself, it’s a good idea to hire an estate agent, preferably one familiar with experience working with expats. These professionals have extensive knowledge of the local housing market and can guide you through the process of finding a place that meets your requirements.

Online property rentals, expat forums and local classifieds can also be good sources if you prefer not to use an estate agent.

Useful links

• Angocasa
• Expats in Luanda

Renting accommodation in Angola

Making an application

If you’re searching for a property by yourself in Angola, you will have to view a few properties, and once you have found one you like, you can submit an application to the estate agent or landlord. We recommend viewing apartments with an estate agent or a trusted friend, as property scams are fairly common in Angola.

Once you reach an agreement with the landlord, you must then sign a rental agreement, which may be in Portuguese. Some landlords may require a guarantor to co-sign the lease with you; this may be a third party or a bank.

Leases

Leases in Angola can either be open-ended or they can be for a fixed term agreed upon by the tenant and landlord. If no lease period is specified in the contract, a period of two years (renewable) is assumed. The New Urban Lease Law requires that the rent be set in the local currency.

Deposits

The start-up costs of moving to Angola are high, and expats without a sponsoring employer may find it difficult to bear these costs. Most notably, a security deposit of 6 to 12 months’ rent is required before moving in. In addition to the hefty deposit requirements, you must also pay the first month’s rent.

Terminating the lease

Under the New Urban Lease Law, tenants must give at least 30 days’ notice before terminating the lease. In contrast, landlords are legally required to give tenants at least six months’ notice if they plan to terminate the lease early.

We recommend taking a full inventory of the property with your landlord before and after moving out to avoid unfair penalties. If the property has been damaged beyond normal wear and tear, the landlord can deduct the expenses to fix the damage from your deposit. Otherwise, they are legally obligated to return the full deposit after you move out.

Utilities in Angola

Unless otherwise agreed, the tenant is responsible for paying for services and utilities such as water, electricity, gas, telephone, and internet.

It’s important to note that electricity and water supply can be unreliable throughout Angola. You should therefore ensure that your home is equipped with backup generators and water tanks.

Electricity

The electricity supply in Angola is managed by the Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA), and the power is supplied through three public utilities: Empresa Pública de Produção de Electricidade (PRODEL), Empresa Rede Nacional de Transporte de Electricidade (RNT), and Empresa Nacional de Distribuição de Electricidade (ENDE). The state-owned public utilities oversee electricity production, transmission, and distribution.

Most properties will likely already have an electricity connection, but if not, you can contact your nearest ENDE office or visit their website to fill out an application form. You must also submit your proof of identity and rental agreement. The company may send a technician to conduct a site inspection. You’ll likely need to pay a connection fee.

There are several ways to pay your monthly electricity bills, including at the ENDE offices, at banks, or online on the ENDE website. Some supermarkets and retailers also process ENDE bill payments, so this is another option.

Gas

Although Angola has a highly developed natural gas production infrastructure, the supply is largely limited to the industrial and commercial sectors. Residential natural gas use is uncommon, with most of it limited to gas cylinders, which are largely used for cooking and heating purposes.

Gas cylinders can be refilled at Sonangol gas depots. Some hardware stores and petrol (gas) stations will also have refilling stations.

Water

The Ministry of Water and Energy oversees the country’s water supply and outsources provincial water resources management to the National Water Directorate. In Luanda, the water supply is managed by the public utility, Empresa Pública de Águas de Angola (EPAL).

Similarly to electricity, you can contact EPAL to fill out an application form and submit your biographical and rental information to get connected to the water grid. Access to piped water in Angola is limited, and supply can be unreliable, so an alternative supply is essential. You can also pay your monthly water bills at the EPAL offices, online, at supermarkets, and other retailers that have partnerships with the public utility.

Bins and recycling

As an expat living in Angola, you’ll likely be living in a compound where the waste is collected by private companies. Nationally, waste management processes are severely lacking, particularly in rural areas and informal settlements. The provincial government in Luanda has contracted several private companies to oversee waste collection throughout the city.

Waste is typically collected from designated points throughout Luanda, with no door-to-door collection service. Recycling is still in its infancy in Angola, but we recommend sorting your waste at source to make it easier for informal waste pickers to find the recyclables.

Internet

Access to the internet is improving in Angola, and connection speeds have significantly increased over the last few years. Telecommunications companies like Unitel and Movicel provide mobile and fixed internet services. Fibre optic cable connections are also widely available in Angola.

Many public spaces, such as cafés, restaurants, and airports, offer free WiFi. For international television programming, numerous streaming platforms and cable TV through TVCABO, Zap Angola, and DSTV are available.

Useful links

• ENDE
• Sonangol
• EPAL
• Unitel
• Movicel
• TVCABO