DEMAR
Lobby arches framing a sand-uniformed concierge at the desk.
Frequently asked

Eight categories. Answers we will hold to.

The questions DEMAR is asked most often, grouped by the kind of buyer asking. If a question you have is not here, write to hello@demar.properties or reach Dennis on WhatsApp — we will answer in writing, and add it to this page if it is useful to others.

Contents

01

General

What DEMAR is, where The Dagaz is, and how the broad pieces fit together.

  • What is DEMAR?

    DEMAR is a Danish-founded premium residential developer in Nairobi, founded in 2022 by Erik Søndergaard. We design our own buildings in-house through the DEMAR studio, led by Lars-Henrik Mortensen. We are debt-free at acquisition through to handover. Buyer deposits sit in escrow at Stanmore Trust Kenya Limited. The first project is The Dagaz, on Raptor Road in Westlands.

  • Where is The Dagaz?

    Raptor Road, Westlands, Nairobi. Plot reference LR No. 1870/IV/237, held debt-free in the project SPV.

  • When does The Dagaz hand over?

    Q2 2029 is the contracted handover target.

  • What is EDGE certification?

    EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is the IFC's green-building standard for emerging markets. The Dagaz is registered for IFC EDGE Advanced under reference EDGE-KE-2025-00148. Targets — published before audit, not after — are 40% energy savings, 35% water savings, 25% reduction in embodied carbon. The audit is conducted by GEcon Africa, an IFC EDGE registered auditor.

  • Who designed The Dagaz?

    Lars-Henrik Mortensen, KADK-trained, founded the DEMAR studio in Nairobi in 2023. The studio is a single in-house team led on design operations by Annika Lindgren. Every drawing is signed by the same architect; the brief never leaves the studio.

  • What does 'designed Together' actually mean?

    Most people know Karen is named after a Danish author. Fewer know that the Kenyatta International Conference Centre — the building on Kenya’s 100-shilling banknote — was co-designed by a Norwegian architect and a Kenyan chief architect. Fewer still know that Danish wind turbines now generate roughly 14% of Kenya’s electricity. For sixty years, Nordic design and Kenyan context have produced sovereign Kenyan infrastructure. We are not the first Nordic company to build in Kenya. We are simply the first to build homes. Over half the founding team has African heritage. Kenya is for Kenyans. We are humble guests and grateful partners.

02

Reservation process

How a reservation actually works, where the deposit sits, and what happens next.

  • How do I reserve?

    Five steps. (1) Submit an enquiry through the reservation form; (2) we call you back within 24 hours; (3) we hold a 45- or 90-minute conversation, in person or by video; (4) you receive an offer letter and reservation forms; (5) the 10% reservation deposit is wired directly to Stanmore Trust Kenya Limited, our CMA-licensed escrow trustee. The unit is held the moment the deposit clears escrow.

  • What is the reservation deposit?

    10% of the unit price, held in escrow at Stanmore Trust Kenya Limited. Funds are released against contracted construction milestones only on counter-signature by Knight Mwangi Quantity Surveyors.

  • Can I reserve from abroad?

    Yes. Diaspora and diplomatic buyers reserve via Power of Attorney arranged with Otieno & Patel Advocates LLP, our SPV legal counsel. Video viewings are bookable through Cal.com, with a 45-minute default and 90-minute deep-dive option.

  • What if I want to back out?

    Refunds are governed by the trust deed signed at reservation, with schedule and timing set out in the offer letter. The refund pathway sits with Stanmore Trust Kenya Limited, not with DEMAR — by design.

  • When does the next milestone payment fall due?

    For Phase 1 reservers, the excavation-complete milestone has already been certified. For buyers signing now, the schedule is customised to the date you sign and is set out in the reservation letter against the four contracted milestones: 10% reservation, 20% excavation-complete, 30% structural-complete, 40% handover.

03

Diaspora buyers

For Kenyan and East African diaspora buying from outside the country.

  • How do I verify my deposit is safe?

    Stanmore Trust Kenya Limited issues monthly statements directly to the buyer. The contract is denominated in KES; a USD reference is recorded at signing-day spot rate. The trust deed, the SPV, and the audited financials sit in a single record traceable from your signing date.

  • Will DEMAR manage my unit when I'm abroad?

    Westgate Living Management offers a fully-managed rental program for absent owners, with a single point of contact and quarterly written reporting. The arrangement is contractual, not a referral.

  • What about Kenyan tax for non-residents?

    Otieno & Patel Advocates LLP advise on the 5% non-resident withholding rate on rental income, plus capital gains on disposal. The structure is standard. We connect every diaspora buyer to counsel; we do not advise on tax ourselves.

  • Is there a video viewing option?

    Yes. 45-minute default for an introductory walkthrough, 90-minute deep-dive for buyers who have already received an offer letter. Cal.com is wired for direct booking.

  • Currency exposure during the 24-month plan?

    None once signed. The contract is denominated in KES, locked at reservation. USD-equivalent is referenced at signing for record purposes only.

04

Diplomatic and UN buyers

For UN, embassy, and consular staff posted to Nairobi or rotating through.

  • How do diplomatic rotation rentals work?

    Westgate Living Management offers 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60-month contracts matched to standard diplomatic posting cycles. Lease structure, indemnity, and exit terms are fixed against the cycle length you choose at signing.

  • What is the typical Westlands long-let yield?

    Westlands premium long-lets benchmark at 5–7% gross. Modelled net yield on a Dagaz unit is 4.0–5.5% after Westgate Living Management retainer, utilities, and the sinking fund contribution. We will share the model file on request; we do not publish projected returns without source citation.

  • Can I reserve from a diplomatic posting?

    Yes. DocuSign is accepted; sealed paper trails and embassy mail-room delivery are accepted. Otieno & Patel Advocates LLP handle the paperwork on either pathway.

  • What about VAT or duty for diplomatic-status purchases?

    Otieno & Patel Advocates LLP guide on a case-by-case basis, depending on host-country status, posting status, and the relevant bilateral agreement.

05

Families

For owner-occupier families moving into The Dagaz.

  • Are units child-safe?

    Zero-VOC paint, E1-grade low-formaldehyde MDF, Greenguard Gold flooring sealants, lead-free plumbing, and soft-close Olivari hardware on every door and drawer. The specification is published on the Standards page and held to on the contract.

  • What schools are nearby?

    International School of Kenya (ISK) 9 minutes; Braeburn 6 minutes; German School Nairobi 11 minutes; École Française 8 minutes; Brookhouse 24 minutes; Aga Khan Academy 10 minutes. Drive times are measured outside school-rush hours.

  • Is there a play area for kids?

    Yes. A children's play space designed for ages 2 to 10, an on-podium garden, and a 24/7 manned security cordon at the perimeter.

  • How quiet are the residences?

    Bedroom doors are soundproofed and rated to 38 dB. Schüco AWS 75 SI+ low-iron triple-glazed windows are set on every aperture. Acoustic isolation is part of the design brief, not an upgrade option.

  • Can I see the gallery with kids?

    Yes. Sandalwood Plaza, Lower Kabete Road. Weekend slots are reserved for families.

06

Construction and delivery

What is on site, what is published, and what is owed if we slip.

  • What is the current construction phase?

    Floors 9–12 cast as of May 2026.

  • Where can I see progress?

    /projects/the-dagaz/construction — the public construction log, updated monthly and signed by Joseph K. Otieno, MICE.

  • Late-delivery penalty?

    0.5% of unit price per month of delay beyond the contracted handover date, capped at 6% of the unit price. The clause is codified as clause 9 of the reservation letter.

  • Tolerances?

    Joinery joints -2/+2mm, tile alignment ±3mm, wall plumb ±5mm over 2.5m, stone counter joins ±1mm. Tolerances are published on the Standards page and held to on the contract.

07

Post-handover

Who looks after the building once the keys are handed over.

  • Who manages the building?

    Westgate Living Management on a 10-year service-level agreement signed before handover.

  • What is the defects warranty?

    24 months from handover, on every unit.

  • Response times?

    24 hours for water ingress, lift failure, security incidents, and fire-safety items. 7 days for non-critical items. The schedule is written into the management contract; it is not a service promise we keep informally.
A question we did not answer

Ask Dennis directly.

Write to hello@demar.properties or reach Dennis Kristensen on WhatsApp. We answer in writing, within 24 hours, and add the useful ones to this page.

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