Peculiar Rules Set by Nairobi Landlords for Tenants

File image of apartments in Nairobi's Pipeline estate
File image of apartments in Nairobi's Pipeline estate
File

A section of Nairobi residents have narrated peculiar rules they had to condone when living in residential houses in the city and its environs.

The residents noted that rules and regulations differed from one apartment to another but disclosed that some were implausible and invaded people's privacy.

"On one occasion I was house hunting when the landlord asked whether I was married or single. She told me that individuals that are not legally married are not allowed to live together," Waithera Matu told Kenyans.co.ke.

A line of highrise rental houses in Nairobi
A line of highrise rental houses in Nairobi.
Photo

“When we were house hunting at Kahawa Wendani, one old landlord told us that we should not have more than one kid if we wanted to be his tenants," a netizen stated.

Others narrated that the landlords would switch off the lights at a certain time to avoid a huge bill while others noted that the gate would always be locked at 10 pm.

"I was living in a single room and my baby was just a year old. the landlord would switch off lights at 9pm in the night to 6am in the morning and mark you I was going to work at 5am,” a netizen said.

"Whenever it was 10pm, the caretaker would lock the gate and no one would be allowed in. Those who came in past that would knock the gate and when they got tired, they would leave," another stated.

There are some rules that govern how landlords treat their tenants and one of them is the right to privacy.

Once you move in, the landlord cannot enter your property without your consent. It doesn’t matter what they are trying to do, they need to have your permission before they can access your house.

The only exception would be if there is an emergency such as a fire.

Also, your safety is of utmost importance no matter where you are staying.

The landlord should make sure that the doors, windows and locks work properly to ensure your safety. If you want to add extra locks, you have the right to do so.

Nairobi residents pictured at Kenya National Archives section of Nairobi CBD
Nairobi residents pictured at Kenya National Archives section of Nairobi CBD.
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