How to Avoid Rental Scams in Kenya: 10 Essential Checks

1. View the actual property

Whenever possible, visit before making any payment. Confirm that the house exists, matches the advert and is available. During the visit:

• Check the rooms, facilities and general condition.
• Confirm the location and how you'll access it.
• Ask to see the specific unit you'll rent.
• Ask the person showing you around who owns or manages it.

If you can't visit, ask for a live video walkthrough and have someone you trust inspect the house for you. Be cautious if the advertiser keeps avoiding reasonable viewing arrangements.

On Keyra: you can use Request a Viewing on a listing to arrange a time with the lister before you pay anything.

2. Verify the landlord or estate agent

Get the full name and contact details of the landlord, property manager or agent. A social media profile, WhatsApp account, phone number or attractive photos aren't enough on their own.

If you're dealing with an estate agent, ask for their registration details and check them with the Estate Agents Registration Board (EARB), where applicable.

A legitimate-looking profile or ID document doesn't, by itself, prove that someone can rent out a particular house.

3. Confirm their authority to rent it out

Someone can have access to a house without being authorised to rent it out. Ask how they're connected to the property and, where appropriate, for reasonable confirmation from the owner or authorised manager.

If an agent is handling it, confirm the arrangement with the owner or manager using contact details you've found independently. Take extra care if someone says they act for an absent landlord but won't provide reasonable confirmation.

4. Be careful with urgent payment requests

Scammers often create pressure by claiming that others want the house and you'll lose it unless you pay now. Genuine houses do attract competition, but urgency shouldn't stop you from making basic checks. Be cautious when someone:

• Demands a deposit before allowing a viewing.
• Refuses to answer reasonable questions.
• Changes payment instructions unexpectedly.
• Offers unusually low rent without a convincing reason.
• Pushes you to pay before you've confirmed the house is available and they're authorised.

A genuine rental shouldn't require you to skip reasonable precautions.

5. Check the payment details before sending money

Confirm what you're paying for, the amount and who should receive it. Ask for a written breakdown of the rent, deposit, agent's fee and any other charges.

On M-Pesa or bank transfer, check the recipient's details before confirming. A familiar name, phone number or payment confirmation doesn't prove a transaction is legitimate. Avoid paying unrelated third parties unless their role and authority are clear.

Keep transaction messages, receipts, agreements and relevant conversations.

Important: Never share your M-Pesa PIN, banking PIN, passwords or one-time codes. A genuine landlord or agent has no reason to ask for them.

6. Watch for suspicious listings

Fake listings may use copied photos, misleading descriptions or contact details that don't match the property. Look out for:

• The same photos on several listings with different locations or prices.
• Inconsistent details about the location, size or facilities.
• Rent far below similar houses nearby.
• Contact details that change during negotiations.
• An owner who is "unavailable", combined with demands for immediate payment.

A reverse image search can show whether photos appear elsewhere online. But the same photo on several sites isn't proof of fraud, because legitimate agents may advertise the same house. Look into the circumstances before deciding.

7. Read the tenancy agreement before paying

Check that it correctly names the parties and the house, and clearly covers:

• Monthly rent and payment dates.
• The deposit and refund conditions.
• Lease length and renewal.
• Notice periods and how the tenancy ends.
• Who pays for utilities, repairs and other charges.
• Rules for shared facilities or common areas.

Don't sign an agreement with blank spaces, unexplained charges or terms you don't understand. Keep a copy of the signed agreement and any written changes.

8. Record the property's condition

Before moving in, check the doors, windows, locks, plumbing, electrical fittings, walls and floors, and report any defects. Take dated photos or videos of existing damage and share them with the landlord or manager.

Where possible, record the condition in a signed move-in checklist or inspection report. It can help avoid disagreements about damage when you leave.

9. Understand all costs and refund terms

The advertised rent may not be the full amount you need to move in. Ask for a breakdown of:

• First month's rent.
• Security deposit.
• Agent or administration fees, where applicable.
• Water, electricity and internet.
• Service charge, parking or shared-facility costs.

Confirm whether the deposit is refundable, what can be deducted and how the refund will be handled. Get the amounts and terms in writing rather than relying on verbal promises.

For more on deposits and move-in costs, see What to Check Before Paying a House Deposit in Kenya.

10. Know what to do if you suspect fraud

Pause the transaction. Don't send more money because someone says another payment is needed to release a deposit, hand over keys or complete the deal. Keep the evidence:

• Adverts and links.
• Names, phone numbers and account details used.
• M-Pesa or bank transaction records.
• Receipts, agreements, messages and emails.

If you've already paid, contact your bank or mobile money provider promptly to ask whether any action is possible, and report the matter to the relevant law enforcement authorities with the evidence you've collected.

On Keyra: If the listing is on Keyra, you can also tap Report this listing on the property page so our team can review it.