Nairobi house hunting checklist: what to check before you pay
Take this to every viewing. Water, power, money, the house, the area, and what to do before you pay.
By Meridian Estates. Updated
A house can look great in photos and still cost you every month.
Use this list on every viewing. It works anywhere in Kenya, not only in Nairobi.
Step 1
Check the water
- Is the water from the county, a borehole, or both?
- Is there a storage tank, and how big is it?
- Turn on the taps and the shower. Check the pressure.
Step 2
Check the electricity
- Is there a prepaid token meter for this unit only?
- Is there a backup generator, and does it cover the unit or only the lift and corridors?
- Switch on the lights and test the sockets.
Step 3
Get the money clear before you sign
- Monthly rent, and the deposit amount
- Service charge, and what it covers (security, cleaning, garbage)
- Is there a water deposit or a separate water bill?
- When is rent due, and is there a late fee?
Step 4
Look inside the house
- Look for damp, cracks and leaks, especially under sinks.
- Check that windows and doors lock properly.
- Check phone signal and internet options.
- Take photos of any damage and send them to the landlord before you move in.
Step 5
Check around the building
- Visit at night as well as in the day.
- Check parking, the gate and the guards.
- Time the trip to work or school during rush hour.
- Ask current tenants how the water and the management are.
Step 6
Before you pay anything
Get a written tenancy agreement and read it.
Pay the deposit and rent through M-Pesa to a business or bank account you can trace, and keep every receipt.
Do not pay to hold a house you have not seen in person.