Guides for landlords

Managing rental property in Kenya from abroad: a guide for diaspora landlords

Updated 4 Nov 2026

Owning rentals in Kenya while you live in London, Dubai, Houston or Toronto usually means relying on a relative or a caretaker, calling to ask who has paid, and hearing about repairs after the money is spent. It doesn't have to work that way. These are the habits that keep diaspora landlords in control from anywhere.

1. Have rent paid straight to you

Tenants should pay into an M-Pesa Paybill or Till in your name (or your business's), or your bank's Paybill with your account number. Never into a caretaker's or relative's personal number. Money paid to your own account can't go missing on the way, and every payment leaves a record you can check from abroad. Our guide to collecting rent on M-Pesa explains the options.

2. Know who has paid without phoning anyone

Keep a running statement for each tenant: every rent charge, every payment and what they owe. When you can see it yourself, you don't need to ask, and nobody has to remember. Tenants should get a receipt for every payment too, which saves arguments later.

3. Put reminders on autopilot

Most late rent is forgotten rent. A text a few days before the rent day, and another when it's late, does the chasing for you, whatever the time is where you live.

4. Give your caretaker the work, not the money

• Cash: if tenants pay a caretaker in cash, have every handover recorded and confirmed, so you know what was collected and what reached you.
• Repairs: agree a spending limit. Above it, the caretaker asks first, with the amount, what it's for and a photo, and you approve or decline from your phone.
• Their own login: a caretaker needs to see who has paid and log repairs, not your totals, reports or settings.

5. Let family help without sharing your password

If a sibling or parent at home keeps an eye on things, give them their own access: read-only to look, or with permission to make changes, so every change shows who made it. You can remove it at any time.

6. Keep the papers where you can reach them

Title deeds, land rates receipts, insurance and contracts are hard to get hold of from abroad. Keep scanned copies in one private place, with a reminder before anything needs renewing, such as land rates or insurance.

7. Tax, in Kenya and where you live

• In Kenya: residents pay Monthly Rental Income tax (MRI); see our KRA rental income tax guide. If you're not resident in Kenya for tax, rent paid to you is generally taxed differently (a withholding tax, at a different rate), so check with a tax adviser which applies to you.
• Where you live: many countries (the UK, US, Canada and others) tax residents on their income worldwide, including Kenyan rent. Kenyan tax you paid can often be credited. You'll need a year's rent received and expenses, ideally converted to your currency.

8. Check in on a schedule

Instead of calls whenever you remember, look at one summary at a set time: who paid today, who is late, what's waiting for your approval. Ten minutes a week is usually enough when the records keep themselves.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Laws and KRA rules change: check with an advocate or tax adviser for your situation.