Bangwe, located on the outskirts of Blantyre City, was set up to improve access to affordable rental housing in Malawi. The majority of its clients had moved to the city to find work and could afford the rental price of between just $12 and $27 USD a month. Prior to the project they lived in informal housing, characterised by unstable accommodation and poor sanitary conditions.

The land was purchased in the form of leasehold of 99 years and aimed to capitalise on low land prices which are likely to escalate as the city population continues to increase. The units constructed are single storey one and two-bedroom houses, fully serviced with electricity, household water and sanitation.

The project focused on developing a new model of housing in Malawi, whereby rental housing is managed for the benefit of low-income populations rather than run by individuals for profit. Income raised through rental collections is used to meet the operational costs and to keep the model financially sustainable. The houses will grow in value over the next 10 years and can be used by EDH in the future as collateral for loans, to reinvest in new rental projects.