6 questions to ask before you sign a lease in Kenya

Most deposit disputes come from vague wording. The lease should say the amount, what it can be used for, and the number of days the landlord has to refund it after you move out. 'Within a reasonable time' is where deposits go to disappear.

Check how much notice either side must give to end the agreement, and whether it must be in writing. If the lease is silent, default rules apply — but you want the number in black and white before you sign, not during a dispute.

Structural repairs are usually the landlord's; day-to-day wear is usually yours. Leases that push 'all repairs' onto the tenant deserve a second look and, ideally, a redraft.

Look for an escalation clause. If the landlord can increase rent during the term, the lease should say by how much and with what notice. Surprise increases usually trace back to a clause the tenant never read.

Locking out a tenant or seizing goods without a court process is unlawful in Kenya — but it still happens. Knowing the rule before a dispute starts changes how you respond to a threat.

You can upload the lease to CHAT CLYDE SLP and ask it to list every clause that costs you money, every deadline, and anything unusual — with the exact clause quoted so you can verify it. It is not a lawyer, but it never gets tired on page nine.