How to use Kiray: find a home, post a home, and everything people ask us
A plain guide to renting and listing homes in Ethiopia with the Kiray app
Kiray is a free app for renting homes and business spaces in Ethiopia. Renters search by area and contact the owner or broker directly. Owners and brokers post a home in about five minutes.
These are the questions we hear most, answered in one place.
- Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.betrent.app
- Website: https://kiray.et
The basics
Is Kiray free?
Yes. Searching, seeing a phone number, calling, messaging and getting alerts are all free for renters. Posting a home is free too.
Do I need an account?
Not to look. You can browse, search and save favorites as a guest. You need to sign in to message a lister, to get alerts, to keep your favorites across phones, and to post a home.
Which languages does it work in?
English, አማርኛ, Afaan Oromoo and ትግርኛ. Change it any time in Profile → Settings.
What can I find on Kiray?
Apartments, condominiums, studios, houses and villas, single rooms and shared rooms, plus offices, shops and other commercial space.
How to rent a home
1. Search by area
Type a neighbourhood, like Bole or CMC, in the search bar on the home screen. You can also allow location to see the homes closest to you first, or open the map.
2. Narrow it down
Open the filters and set your budget, the number of rooms and the type of home. Sort the results the way you like.
3. Open a listing
Each listing shows the photos, the price and how often rent is paid, the deposit, any broker commission, the features (water, generator, elevator, security and more) and the location.
4. Save the ones you like
Tap the heart. The home goes to your Favorites tab.
5. Contact the lister
You have three ways: call, Telegram, or message inside the app. A call usually gets the fastest answer. If you message and nobody replies, Kiray reminds the lister for you.
6. Visit, then agree
Go and see the home. Meet the owner. Agree the terms before you pay anything. Rent in Ethiopia is often paid several months up front, so be clear about the period, the deposit and any commission.
Some listings also let you send a Request to Rent with your move-in date and how long you want to stay. The landlord then confirms or declines, and you see the answer under your requests.
How do I hear about new homes first?
Run a search and tap Save search, or set up an alert with the type of home and the areas you want. Kiray notifies you the moment a matching home is listed. Make sure notifications are turned on for Kiray on your phone.
The home I called about was already rented. Why was it still listed?
Listers are asked to mark a home as rented as soon as it is taken, and Kiray checks with them regularly. After you contact a lister, the app may also ask you "Is this place still available?" Your answer is private, and it helps us remove old listings quickly.
How to post a home
1. Switch to listing
On the home screen, switch from finding a home to posting yours, or open the Listings tab and tap Add Property.
2. Sign in and verify your phone
We text a 6-digit code to your Ethiopian mobile number (starting 09 or 07). You do this once. It keeps fake listings off Kiray. If the SMS is slow, you can submit your number for our team to confirm and keep going.
3. Add the details
- Type: what kind of home or space it is, and whether it is part of a bigger house, compound or building.
- Location: drop a pin on the map and Kiray fills in the area for you. You can also type it yourself.
- Price and terms: the rent, how it is paid (monthly, every 2, 3 or 6 months, or yearly), the deposit (up to one month's rent) and any broker commission (up to 10%).
- Photos: up to 10. Add at least 3 to 5 clear ones.
- Title and description: a title of at least 10 characters and a description of at least 50.
Your progress is saved as you go, so you can stop and finish later.
4. Publish
Your listing goes to our team for a quick review. You get a notification when it is approved, and from then on renters can find it.
Tips for a listing that gets calls
- Take photos in daylight and show every room.
- Put the true price and the real terms. Surprises lose renters.
- Pin the exact location.
- Answer messages quickly, or pick up the phone.
How do I edit a listing or take it down?
Open the Listings tab. From there you can change the price, photos or description at any time, mark the home as rented when it is taken (so renters stop calling), put it back as available later, or delete it.
I'm a broker. Can I post?
Yes. Brokers are welcome. Show your commission on the listing so renters know it before they call.
Staying safe
Never pay before viewing. See the home and meet the owner before you send any money, whether it is called rent, a deposit or a "booking fee". Kiray never asks you to pay through chat.
Watch for these:
- Someone who asks for money before you have seen the home.
- An "owner" who says they are away and will send you the keys.
- Someone who asks for your ID in chat. Show ID only in person, when you sign a contract.
Kiray warns you inside the chat when a message looks like one of these.
How do I report a listing or a person?
Open the listing or the chat and tap Report. Pick a reason, such as scam, wrong information, already rented, or "asked me to pay before viewing". Reports are confidential and our team reviews them. You can also block a user.
Account and help
I didn't get my code
SMS can be slow. Wait a moment and tap Resend code. When posting, you can also submit your number for our team to confirm.
How do I delete my account?
Go to Profile, choose delete account and confirm it is you. Your account, personal data and listings are removed permanently.
What about movers and cleaners?
You will see Movers and Cleaners in the app marked Coming soon. They are not open yet.
How do I reach Kiray?
In the app, go to Profile → Settings → Help. Or email contact@kiray.et.
Looking for a home, or have one to rent out? Get Kiray on Google Play, or start at https://kiray.et.
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