A small separate unit within the compound of a larger house, built originally as accommodation for domestic staff. The name is colonial and has stuck.

In practice today they are ordinary rentals, often self-contained, often good value, and you share a gate and a compound with the main house.

Worth checking before renting one:

  • Whether the electricity meter is separate or shared with the main house
  • Whether there is a separate entrance, or you pass through the main compound
  • Water access and storage
  • What the arrangement is with the main house’s occupants

How to find a place