This archive report was first published on 24 August 2021.
Published on August 24, 2021, a bill aimed at regulating the landlord-tenant relationship in Kenya is set to be debated in Parliament.
The Landlord and Tenant Bill 2021, sponsored by Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Amos Kimunya, proposes significant changes to the existing laws governing tenancy agreements.
One of the key provisions of the bill is the reduction of the notice period for tenants to vacate premises in case of non-payment of rent from three consecutive months to just one month.
However, the bill also seeks to protect tenants from unfair eviction practices by prohibiting landlords from seizing their property without legal process.
Landlords will also be required to keep signed records of all rent payments and share a copy with the tenant, with a fine not exceeding one month's rent imposed on any landlord who violates this obligation.
Additionally, the bill proposes the creation of a five-member tribunal that will have the power to assess or modify the rent payable for a premise, as well as determine the service charge payable on a property.
The tribunal will also have the authority to compel landlords to renovate their buildings or authorise tenants to pay for the repairs and deduct the same from their monthly rent.
Landlords who fail to comply with the provisions of the law will be liable to a fine of up to Sh100,000 or a one-year jail term or both.
