Slum Development and Property Values of the Harare Eastern Suburbs

The chapter is assembled from a study that sought to investigate the impact of slum development on property values in the suburbs of Caledonia, using Manresa, Tafara and Damafalls as case studies. The existence of slums leads to a reduction in the demand for properties (compelling property owners to dispose of their properties and move to other suburbs), high crime, prostitution and depressed property values. The study had the following objectives: to establish the causes of slum development in the Caledonia neighbourhood, to identify the factors affecting property values in suburbs neighbouring Caledonia, to assess the trend in property values of neighbouring suburbs from 2006 to 2018, to analyse stakeholders’ perspectives on property values in these suburbs, and to suggest measures to improve property values of suburbs neighbouring Caledonia. The study used non-probability sampling methods such as purposive and systematic sampling techniques. The respondents were of the view that the slums lead to a reduction in the demand for properties in neighbouring suburbs. The researcher recommended that drastic measures be taken to improve property values in suburbs adjacent to the slum development. Property values can be improved through slum upgrading projects such as urban renewal.