Tenancy Agreement Template Kenya: Fill In, Download in Word and PDF
Make a tenancy agreement for a house or flat in Kenya in a few minutes.
Checked 20 Oct 2026 against the sources listed below.
1. Who is signing
Leave anything blank to fill in by hand.
2. The house and rent
Your tenancy agreement
- Rent
- KES 15,000 a month, due by the 5th
- Deposit
- KES 15,000
- Term
- 12 months, then month to month
- Notice
- 1 month
13 clauses, written for Kenyan law
- 1.The property
- 2.Term
- 3.Rent
- 4.Deposit
- 5.Bills and service charge
- 6.The Tenant agrees to
- 7.The Landlord agrees to
- 8.Rent changes
- 9.Ending the tenancy
- 10.Condition of the Property
- 11.Notices
- 12.Disputes
- 13.Stamp duty and the whole agreement
- ✓ Word (to edit) and PDF (to print), with your details filled in
- ✓ Signature and witness blocks, plus an inventory
- ✓ Before-you-sign checklist
Before you sign
- See the landlord's ID and proof they own or manage the house (a title search, a rates receipt or an agent's letter).
- Inspect the house together and fill in the inventory before you pay.
- Pay rent and deposit by M-Pesa or bank, never cash, so you have a record.
- Each party keeps a signed copy. Stamp duty is payable on leases: ask KRA or an advocate.
A template based on Kenyan law, not legal advice. Read every clause before signing.
About this tool
Type in the landlord and tenant, the house, the rent and deposit, who pays water and electricity, and the notice period. You get a complete rental agreement with every clause filled in: rent and deposit refund, repairs, rent increases, ending the tenancy, and signature, witness and inventory pages.
The outline and a before-you-sign checklist are free. The full agreement downloads in Word (to edit) and PDF (to print or share on WhatsApp) for a small M-Pesa payment.
What a tenancy agreement in Kenya should include
A good rental agreement settles the things landlords and tenants most often fall out over, before anyone moves in:
| Clause | What it settles |
|---|---|
| Rent | How much, when it's due and where to pay it |
| Deposit | How much, and when and how it's refunded (with a written list of any deductions) |
| Bills | Who pays water, electricity and any service charge |
| Repairs | The tenant reports and pays for their own damage; the landlord keeps the roof, walls, plumbing and wiring sound |
| Rent increases | How much and how much notice |
| Ending the tenancy | Notice on both sides, and what happens if rent isn't paid |
| Inventory | The condition of the house at the start and the end |
The template also rules out "self-help" evictions: the landlord can't lock the tenant out, remove their belongings or cut off water and power to force them out. A tenant who won't leave can only be removed through a court or tribunal.
Stamp duty and registration
Leases attract stamp duty, charged as a percentage of a year's rent, and an unstamped agreement can't be relied on in court until it's stamped. The template puts the duty on the tenant, which is the usual practice; change it if you've agreed otherwise. A lease for more than two years may also need to be registered against the title, so ask an advocate if your term is longer.
Building rental units? The house construction cost calculator estimates the cost of each building phase from your plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tenancy agreement required by law in Kenya?
A tenancy can exist without one, but a written agreement is the only easy way to prove the rent, deposit and notice you agreed. Without it, disputes come down to one person's word against the other's.
How much deposit can a landlord ask for?
There's no fixed legal limit for most homes. One or two months' rent is common, plus a water or electricity deposit for some flats. Whatever you agree, write it down, with the refund terms.
How much notice must a landlord or tenant give?
Whatever the agreement says. A month is common for monthly rent. The template lets you set it, and requires written notice ending on the last day of a rent period.
Can I use it for a shop or office?
No. Business premises are covered by the Landlord and Tenant (Shops, Hotels and Catering Establishments) Act (Cap 301), which has its own notice forms and tribunal. Use an advocate for a commercial lease.