What to Do When Your Landlord Refuses to Fix Things in Kenya

By Makao Match Team

A leaking roof, a broken toilet, wiring that worries you, and a landlord whose answer is a permanent "tomorrow." An unresponsive landlord is one of renting's most draining problems, but you have more leverage than you think, provided you climb the ladder in the right order rather than losing your temper on step one.

Start by building a record

Before anything else, document. Photograph and video the problem with dates, and crucially, raise it in writing, a WhatsApp message describing the issue creates a timestamped record that a phone call never will. If you did call, follow it up with a text: "Following up on our call about the leaking pipe in the bathroom." You're quietly assembling the evidence that makes every later step stronger.

Then set a clear, fair deadline

Vague complaints get vague responses, so be specific and reasonable in writing:

"Dear [Landlord], the kitchen tap has been leaking for two weeks. Kindly arrange a repair by [date, seven days from now]. If it isn't resolved, I'll need to escalate."

A named problem, a firm date and a stated consequence turns a plea into a notice.

Repair and deduct, carefully

Under Kenyan law, if a landlord fails to keep a home habitable, you may be able to fix an essential problem and deduct the cost from rent. This is powerful but has to be done cleanly: only for genuinely essential repairs like plumbing, electricity or security; get at least two quotes from qualified technicians; notify the landlord in writing before you proceed; and keep every receipt. Skip any of those and you hand the landlord an argument.

Escalate beyond the landlord

If they still won't move, take it up the chain. The Rent Tribunal is a free government dispute-resolution service built for exactly this. If the fault is a health hazard, sewage, mould, the county health department has teeth. And Kituo Cha Sheria offers free legal advice if you need to understand your position.

Know when to leave

Sometimes the honest answer is that a landlord who chronically ignores maintenance will only let the place decline further, and your energy is better spent moving than fighting. When it comes to that, look for a better-managed property on Makao Match, verified listings from professional landlords who actually respond. You deserve a home that's looked after; don't settle for less.