(NAIROBI, KENYA) – Landlords in Kenya’s major cities are demanding payslips, tax records and employment letters from prospective tenants as court rulings against unlawful evictions force stricter screening before leases are signed.
Property consultants say the vetting process has become more rigorous due to anti money laundering rules, terrorism concerns and data protection laws. Landlords now ask detailed questions about salary range, employer, marital status, children and pets before approving a tenancy.
James Odenyo, a property consultant, said landlords are no longer simply interested in whether someone is willing or able to pay rent. They want to know who the individual is and who they are bringing into the property.
A tenant paying KES 1.2 million in rent, for example, may trigger checks with banks to confirm the source of funds. At current rates, that is $8,276 / £6,576 / €7,620 annually.
Court and tribunal decisions have made clear that landlords must follow due process when seeking to recover their properties. In 2026, tenants in Nairobi sued a landlord for eviction after they were removed without a court order.
The two had occupied the Nairobi house since 1985. The Environment and Land Court ordered the occupants to be restored to the Nairobi City County house.
Chris Gichangi, a partner at G.M Gamma Advocates LLP, said the process starts with the landlord identifying a lawful ground for terminating the tenancy and issuing a properly drafted written notice.
If the tenant fails to comply, the landlord must institute proceedings before the appropriate court or tribunal seeking orders for termination and return of possession.
He said eviction can be enforced only after orders are issued. A tenant’s failure to pay rent does not give the landlord an automatic right of immediate eviction.
Non payment can constitute grounds for termination, but the landlord must still comply with notice requirements and obtain necessary orders before recovering possession.
The consequences of ignoring this process can be severe. Changing locks, blocking access, removing belongings, disconnecting electricity or water, dismantling parts of the premises or using coercion to force a tenant out could amount to unlawful eviction, Mr Gichangi said.
Landlords and agents, particularly in upmarket areas, are increasingly trying to avoid such disputes, which can leave them without rental income while a case is in court. A legal fight can also damage the reputation of a property.
The shift in Nairobi is similar to what happens in countries such as the UK, Germany and the US, where landlords and letting agents routinely screen prospective tenants for income, employment, rental history, creditworthiness and, in some cases, identity and immigration status before approving a lease.
Johnson Denge, a real estate investment analyst, said Kenyan landlords and agents ask prospective tenants for employment letters, payslips and KRA PIN details. For a tenant seeking long term occupancy, a landlord may want to establish that the prospective tenant has the means to pay rent.
However, for some renters, the screening process can mean losing out on a home despite being able to afford it. Mr Denge pointed to the general rule of thumb that about 30% of income goes towards housing, allowing a person to live within their means.
But someone who lists only one source of income, despite sharing household expenses with a spouse, may appear less able to afford the property and be dropped from the shortlist.
Others may choose not to complete the forms at all, wary of handing over sensitive personal and financial information, and risk being left out of consideration.
Mr Denge gave an example of a household where both spouses earn KES 50,000 each. Together, they have an income of KES 100,000 ($690 / £548 / €635 monthly). But a landlord may assess the application based on the income of one person rather than considering the household’s combined earnings.
As landlords seek to know not just whether rent can be paid, but who exactly is moving in, experts say they might wish to start scrutinising the household’s combined income. For a business tenant, they may want to check the activities against zoning rules, and even ascertain the number of cars to assess parking capacity. The intention is to avoid the costly and protracted battles that can arise when eviction is contested.
Mr Gichangi pointed out that disputes over notices, injunctions, appeals and judicial backlogs can stretch proceedings for years. Landlords can protect themselves by keeping proper tenancy agreements, maintaining accurate rent records, documenting breaches and arrears, issuing properly drafted notices and seeking orders from the appropriate court or tribunal.
The most frequent errors made by landlords arise from attempts to circumvent the legal process to obtain possession of their property more quickly, Mr Gichangi said. These actions frequently convert an otherwise legitimate claim into an unlawful eviction dispute and expose landlords to substantial liability.
