NIB declares Everest Park homes safe for occupation

Property owners at the Athi River-based Everest Park estate, whose houses were condemned after developing massive cracks in 2017, can now move into their homes after authorities cleared and declared the units safe for occupation.

In a letter to the architect, H.M Gatai, on behalf of the developer, the National Building Inspectorate (NBI) said owners of houses on Block 2B at Everest Park Apartment Phase 1 were free to occupy their homes following the correction of structural defects that had been identified.

“Since the safety concern of the building (Block 2B) which was reported to us have been addressed, the tenants can now reoccupy their houses….Any defects noted during the defects liability period should be addressed by the consultants and contractor,” said NBI secretary Moses Nyakiongora in a letter copied to the County Secretary, Machakos County.

Mid 2017, several houses at the estate developed huge cracks – prompting the authorities to undertake an urgent structural audit of the property.

The NIB initiated a structural audit of the Sh755 million estate to ascertain whether or not the houses – most of which were already sold to individual homeowners – were habitable.

The audit findings condemned the building due to structural weaknesses.

The developer Everest Park Limited was compelled to correct the defects, an undertaking that has now given the project the occupation green light.

READ: Construction of Everest Park II estate gets underway

Everest Park Phase 1, which was funded by Pan African mortgage financier Shelter Afrique, comprises 240 one- to three-bedroom apartments in the Mavoko area of Athi River.

The estate boasts 120 one-bedroom units sold for Sh2.6 million each, 60 two-bedroom units priced at Sh4.6 million each and 60 three-bedroom units sold for Sh5.5 million each.

Houses under the first phase of the project are already sold out and the developers are now working on phase two of the Everest Park estate, which will see an additional 200 houses and a commercial centre built in two years.

The estate will have 40-three bedroom, 60-one bedroom and 100-two bedroom houses going for Sh2.95 million to Sh6.5 million. The partners are investing Sh720 million into the project.

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