Tafo Condominium

Tafo condominium is a government housing site north of Ayat, on the road to Legetafo. Listings call it Yeka Tafo, Ayat Tafo or Tafo condominium, and in Amharic ጣፎ ኮንዶሚኒየም. It is a 20/80 site and one of the newer large sites in the east of Addis Ababa.

Where Tafo condominium is

The site lies along Fikre Mariam Aba Techan Street, between Ayat and Tafo Square. OpenStreetMap marks two stops named Tafo Condominium 1 and Tafo Condominium 2, at about 9.050 N and 9.047 N, 38.878 E. Another part of the site appears as Tafo condominium (Yeka Hayat 02), a little to the east.

Landmarks nearby include Tafo Square (the Aba Kiros roundabout) to the north, the Tafo Mebrathail and Tafo Gebrael points to the south, and churches such as Tafo Amanuel, Tafo Teklehaymanot and Tafo Bisrate Gebriel.

A 2022 Addis Ababa University study places the site in woreda 2 of Lemi Kura sub-city. The city formed Lemi Kura in 2020 from 6 woredas of Yeka and 4 of Bole. Older listings still say Yeka.

Getting there

The Ayat light rail station, the eastern end of the east-west line, is about 3 km south of the site. OpenStreetMap lists these routes from Tafo Square:

• Anbessa city bus to Piassa (AB001)
• Minibus taxis to Megenagna and to Kera
• Minibus taxis from Aba Kiros to Summit condominium and to Bole Arabsa

History and housing program

Tafo is a 20/80 site. The 2022 study by Getaneh Nigussie looked at the 20/80 project at the Yeka Tafo site, known as project 5. It found that the plan was to build 8,700 houses. By the time of the study, about 5,958 were built, or 68 percent of the plan, and none had yet been handed over.

The study names the main causes of delay: late release of finance, weak follow-up, poor management, shortages of building materials and corruption. It also found that the land is hard to build on and is not well suited to G+7 buildings. Interviewees said land ownership was still a critical problem at the site, because much of it was farmland.

In July 2022, Yeka Tafo was one of the sites in the 14th condominium lottery round. In that round, 20/80 units cost Br 7,997.17 per square metre. The Reporter listed Yeka Tafo under 40/60 in its report of the round, so check the scheme on the allocation papers of each unit.

Unit types and sizes

One seller describes the building as five years old.

Prices to buy

The table shows asking prices seen on Jiji in October 2026, for units listed as Ayat Tafo.

A one-bedroom unit asks about ETB 94,000 to 117,000 per square metre. A three-bedroom unit asks about ETB 87,000 to 90,000 per square metre. These prices are close to Yeka Abado to the north and below the large 40/60 units at Ayat to the south.

Rent

We found no current rental listing for Tafo condominium. For comparison, a one-bedroom unit of 53 m2 at Yeka Abado is listed at ETB 32,000 a month, and a three-bedroom 40/60 unit at Ayat 49 at ETB 37,000. Browse condominiums for rent in Addis Ababa for current offers.

Buy or rent?

Tafo suits buyers who want a newer 20/80 unit within reach of the light rail at Ayat. No units were handed over before the 2022 lottery, so the site is newer than most. Rent first if you are not sure about water, roads and transport in your block.

Checks before you buy

1. Papers and scheme. Ask for the allocation papers and the title. Confirm the scheme, block and unit number. One seller says the title can transfer to the buyer's name. Check this with the housing agency.
2. Loan balance. Recent lottery units still carry a bank loan. Ask the bank for the balance.
3. Transfer rules. Confirm with the housing agency that the unit can transfer to you now.
4. Land issues. The 2022 study found unresolved land ownership questions at the site. Ask the sub-city office whether any claim affects your block.
5. Occupancy rules. In 2024, the city housing corporation told owners of empty 40/60 units to move in or lose their contracts. Check the current rules if you plan to rent the unit out.
6. Services. Visit the block. Check water, power, the road and the walk to the nearest taxi stop.

Read our condominium guide, our Ayat neighborhood guide, and browse condominiums for sale in Addis Ababa.