5 Red Flags I Missed When Screening My Worst Tenant

His name was Peter. Seemed nice during the viewing.

Well-dressed. Polite. Said he worked in IT. Had cash for the deposit ready.

I handed him the keys.

Three months later, I'm filing an eviction notice. He owes KES 60,000 in back rent. The apartment smells like cigarettes (no-smoking lease). And there's a crack in the bathroom sink.

Total damage: KES 80,000 in lost rent, repairs, and legal fees.

I missed every red flag.

Table of Contents

• Red Flag #1: Too Eager
• Red Flag #2: Vague Employment Details
• Red Flag #3: No References (Or Bad Ones)
• Red Flag #4: Negotiating Rent Down Aggressively
• Red Flag #5: Rushed Paperwork (Or None)
• The Screening Checklist I Use Now
• What to Do If You Already Have a Bad Tenant
• The Cost of a Bad Tenant
• The Good Tenant Signs
• Bottom Line

Red Flag #1: Too Eager

Peter wanted the apartment immediately.

"I can move in tomorrow. Here's the deposit. When can I get the keys?"

I thought: Great! Easy tenant.

Wrong.

Good tenants ask questions. They want to see the lease. They inspect the apartment carefully. They take a day or two to think about it.

Peter asked zero questions. Didn't read the lease. Signed in 5 minutes.

Why it's a red flag: Desperate tenants are often running from something. Previous landlord evicted them. Bad rental history. Something.

What to do instead: If someone's too eager, slow down. Ask why they need to move so fast. Check their references extra carefully.

Red Flag #2: Vague Employment Details

"I work in IT."

That's all Peter said. I didn't press for details.

Didn't ask for an employment letter. Didn't verify his salary. Took his word for it.

Why it's a red flag: Vague = lying. If someone can't clearly state their employer, job title, and salary, they probably don't have stable income.

What to do instead: Request an employment letter on company letterhead. Or recent payslips. Or M-Pesa salary confirmations.

If they're self-employed, ask for M-Pesa statements showing consistent income.

No proof = no keys.

Red Flag #3: No References (Or Bad Ones)

"Can I get your previous landlord's contact?"

"Uh, I was living with family before this."

Peter had no rental history. Or so he claimed.

I should have called the "family" to verify. Didn't.

Turns out, Peter had rented in Ruaka before. Got evicted for non-payment. His previous landlord would've told me.

Why it's a red flag: No references = no track record. You're gambling.

What to do instead: Always call at least one previous landlord. Ask:

• Did they pay rent on time?
• Any property damage?
• Would you rent to them again?

If they say "no" to the last question, run.

Red Flag #4: Negotiating Rent Down Aggressively

"Can you do KES 18,000 instead of KES 20,000?"

"I can only afford KES 15,000."

"What if I pay KES 17,000 and do some repairs myself?"

Peter negotiated hard. I thought he was just being smart with money.

Why it's a red flag: If someone's trying to knock KES 5,000 off a KES 20,000 apartment, they probably can't afford KES 20,000.

And guess what happens when money gets tight? Rent doesn't get paid.

What to do instead: Set your rent. Stick to it.

If someone can't afford it, they're not the right tenant. Don't compromise on price hoping they'll "make it work."

They won't.

Red Flag #5: Rushed Paperwork (Or None)

Peter signed the lease without reading it.

I didn't make him show ID. Didn't photocopy it. Didn't take his KRA PIN.

When I tried to evict him later, I realized I had no documentation. No copies of his ID. No proof of his identity beyond a first name and phone number.

Legal process took twice as long.

Why it's a red flag: Tenants who rush paperwork (or avoid it) are hiding something. Or they know they'll skip out before you can take legal action.

What to do instead: Collect copies of:

• National ID (both sides)
• KRA PIN certificate
• Employment letter or income proof
• Previous landlord contact

Store these in KodiSawa's tenant management system. When you need to take legal action, you have everything.

The Screening Checklist I Use Now

After Peter, I built a checklist. Every prospective tenant goes through this:

1. Application form. Name, ID number, employer, salary, references.

2. Income verification. Employment letter or 3 months of M-Pesa statements.

3. Reference check. Call at least one previous landlord.

4. ID copy. National ID and KRA PIN.

5. Deposit and first month upfront. No exceptions.

If they can't provide any of these, I don't rent to them.

Sounds harsh. But it's saved me from 3 more Peters.

What to Do If You Already Have a Bad Tenant

Already rented to someone and now seeing red flags?

Document everything. Late payments, property damage, lease violations. Write it down with dates.

Send formal notices. If rent is late, send a written notice. Keep a copy.

Start the legal process early. Don't wait 6 months. If they miss 2 months of rent, start eviction.

I waited too long with Peter. Thought he'd "catch up." He didn't.

By the time I evicted him, he owed 3 months. Could've cut my losses at 1 month.

The Cost of a Bad Tenant

Peter cost me:

• KES 60,000 in unpaid rent (3 months × KES 20,000)
• KES 15,000 in repairs (broken sink, deep cleaning, repainting)
• KES 5,000 in legal fees (eviction notice, court)

Total: KES 80,000.

That's 4 months of rent from a good tenant.

All because I didn't spend 30 minutes doing proper screening.

The Good Tenant Signs

Not all tenants are Peters. Here's what good tenants do:

Ask detailed questions. About parking, utilities, house rules. Shows they're thinking long-term.

Provide documents without being asked. Employment letter, ID copy, references. They know the drill.

Pay deposit and first month without negotiating. They budgeted for it.

Have a stable income. Job letter with salary 3x the rent. Or consistent business income.

Good references. Previous landlord says "Yes, I'd rent to them again."

When you find these tenants, keep them. Small rent increases. Quick repairs. Good communication.

Good tenants are gold. Bad tenants cost you gold.

Bottom Line

Tenant screening isn't optional.

30 minutes of verification saves you months of headaches and thousands in losses.

Check employment. Verify income. Call references. Get proper documentation.

And trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.

I learned the hard way with Peter. Don't make my mistake.

Track your tenant payment history and lease details in KodiSawa →

Because the best way to handle bad tenants? Don't rent to them in the first place.