Landlords push tenants to show payslips, tax records as rental vetting tightens
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Kenyan landlords and agents are demanding payslips, employment letters and KRA PIN details from prospective tenants, as court rulings against unlawful evictions make stricter screening the norm in major cities.
Looking for a house in Kenya's major cities is no longer just about finding the right neighbourhood or fitting the rent into your budget. Prospective tenants are being asked questions that go beyond the basics: salary range, place of work, reasons for leaving a current house, and even marital status and family size.
For landlords, the stakes have changed. Court rulings and hefty fines against unlawful evictions have made them cautious, prompting stricter screening long before a tenancy agreement is signed. A series of court and tribunal decisions has made clear that landlords must follow due process when seeking to recover their properties.
James Odenyo, a property consultant, says due diligence on rentals has become more stringent, following anti-money laundering rules, terrorism concerns and data protection laws. A tenant paying Sh1.2 million in rent, for instance, may trigger checks with banks to confirm the source of funds.
Chris Gichangi, a partner at G.M Gamma Advocates LLP, explains that a tenant's failure to pay rent does not confer an automatic right of immediate eviction; landlords must comply with notice requirements and obtain orders before recovering possession. Changing locks, blocking access or removing belongings could amount to unlawful eviction.
Johnson Denge, a real estate investment analyst, says landlords and agents even ask prospective tenants for employment letters, payslips and KRA PIN details. He points to the general rule of thumb that about 30 per cent of income goes towards housing, but notes that households with combined incomes may still be assessed on a single earner's salary, causing some renters to lose out on a dream home despite being able to afford it.