Since the onset of the pandemic, most tenants have been complaining that they are out of work and are not able to pay their rent in good time and landlords indicating that they have bank loans that need to be cleared.
With both parties facing financial constraints during the tough economic times, landlords have taken several measures to ensure that they are paid, some of which would be considered inhuman.
Blocking the Sewer duct
In a heartless bid to make the tenant pay or leave, landlords have been know to guide raw sewer in to their tennant’s house or compound. This exposes the occupants not only to serious diseases but also psychological unrest.
Several weeks ago, Tenants in an estate in Lang’ata, Nairobi had the smelliest holidays ever.
Their landlord, who seemed to be on a vengeance mission, allegedly hired goons to pour raw sewage in one of their houses in a bid to evict them from his premises. This was after several other measures to force the tenants out of Ocean Park Apartment had failed.
Disconnecting Water and Power
Sometimes landlords get impatient when you cannot pay rent on time. Some are going to the extent of cutting of power and water supply to the tenants’ houses. Without water and power existence becomes a living hell. you are also subjected to ridicule from your neighbours.
Locking tenants inside
Locking houses with padlocks is an old and most common way of landlords dealing with rent defaulters.
However, in recent past, the media has highlighted stories of landlords using extreme measures such as welding the doors and trapping occupants inside.
Unhinging the door or removing the roof
In some extreme cases, landlords have removed roofs of their tenants’ houses over rent arrears, with the occupant’s pleas falling onto deaf ears. Others hove unhinged the door leaving an entire family exposed to thugs and to the elements.
Sending goons to scare off tenants
Some landlords have been accused of sending goons to destroy tenants’ property as well as threaten them.
In some cases, the goons break window panes, exposing tenants items to thieves.
Reporting tenants to the chief or Nyumba Kumi elder
In a number of instances, landlords have been left with no option but to report matters of persistent rent defaulters to the area chief, who in turn deliberates on what actions will be taken.
