The landlords and tenants’ association of Kenya (LATAK) has directed Kenyans not to pay their rent due to the financial difficulties occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a media briefing on Wednesday, the union’s secretary-general Ben Liyai argued that the pandemic has led to the closure of many businesses and is crippling the country’s economy.
Liyai noted that this has left many tenants unable to meet their monthly rent obligations let alone putting food on their tables. He added that the union does not expect landlords to harass tenants due to the nonpayment of rent.
‘‘LATAK directs all tenants not to pay rent until when H. E Uhuru Kenyatta orders businesses to resume normal operations,” said Liyai, who was flanked by other LATAK officials.
He added: “All the landlords must forthwith stop evictions, harassment and disconnection of electricity and water to tenants.”
In addition, the union urged property owners and renters experiencing challenges in complying with the directives to SMS the word TENANT or LANDLORD to toll-free emergency number 20777 so that the association can pick up the matter.
Early this month, the union asked the government to order all landlords to waiver rent for the months of April, May, and June to cushion tenants, both commercial and residential, against the effects of the virus.
To achieve this, the association proposed the government should help landlords servicing loans to get a six-month moratorium from lenders.
“Mr. President, on a credible mediation process, starts with writing off rent for three months with no threats, notices, locking houses, disconnection of water/electricity and eviction by auctioneers,” said LATAK.
LATAK further demanded a rent compensation package for landlords introduced into the Covid-19 response kitty.
The union has no power over…
The union has no power over private own property. Let the landlords and tenants sort their affairs privately. How can you pay water, electricity and watchman without getting any income coming in?
How about those landlords…
How about those landlords who do not have loans but divert the case to other activities such as paying employees? A better approach is to give landlords a break from paying KRA taxes for a whole year.
It depends which landlords …
It depends which landlords . some landlords used their small pension to build some rental room as source of income . Others took loans which the banks will not waiver . How are they going to survive themselves ? this is asking for trouble this secretary-general Ben Liya should pay those tenants.
Are we now making jungle…
Are we now making jungle laws in Kenya. The President has Executive authority to make such a drastic announcement. Where is your authority coming from Ben Liyai? Should you not have asked tenants to dialogue with landlords instead?
How the hell are those…
How the hell are those people in a such a building practicing social distancing
we need awe need a strictly…
we need awe need a strictly landlods union. This landlord/tenants union will neverfavour landlords since they the minority and thus less votes if people were to ballot. This union has no authority on landlords who are not members. Some tenants or landlords will be killed due to the conflicts sparked by the unions comments
Not sure what authority this…
Not sure what authority this guy has to direct such a sensitive issue. He is going to land himself in really deep problems.
@Nani, he has Zero authority…
@Nani, he has Zero authority. He is just a busybody.
Agree with you and Kenya…
Agree with you and Kenya. Don’t know his source of authority, but this is a matter of landlords and tenants. If the government wishes to intervene, it should make all parties whole.
Oooooh…and Landlords…
Oooooh…and Landlords should not cut water and electricity because the govt will bail them out or what? Someone stop this Liyai man
This is waging war and…
This is waging war and inviting chaos between private entities and the public otherwise rental houses biz is just a business just like any other…ridiculous !
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So what happens to those…
So what happens to those tenants who get kicked out by force example removal of windows roofs, landlords hiring thugs and goons to carry out illegal evictions.
All talk because this Ben Liyai will be nowhere to be found when some tenants find themselves on the streets.He assumes landlords are rational beings but most are cruel money hungry thugs.Kenya is not the USA where tenants rule the roost.
Just curious how many…
Just curious how many landlords belong to this union ? Suddenly a landlord Union Emerges. It’s very easy and Simple. Mr President., STOP payments of all electric and water bills. You went and gave 20 million to artists Wastage.; why can’t you do the same for landlords. Mr President., give free milk from your family owned brookside company since you killed KCC., Ooh and by the way isn’t it SAD that your own family bank is auctioning Jeff Koinange over his unsettled hard times Debt ? Landlords have loans as well may be tell banks to require nothing and cut down interest rates to nothing And forgive any loans until further notice or when you open back the economy. If you can’t do all of the above. Just stop Rubbish talks and inciting decoy Unions to impose useless Laws. For once act presidential. All the amounts of money spent in BBI and recent allowances awarded to your parliament members by SRC could be used to offset poor mwananchi food and shelter bills. While at that make sure you share how much has been spent so far in the $60 million dollar loan funding you received.. 2022 regardless on who takes your seat definitely will be a better choice compared to your PR government …
Remind me of the guys name…
Remind me of the guys name who always tells Diaspora to invest in Kenya……… So we did through Kenya bankers loan…. Sasa huku states kumesota…. Hata huku unless manner itoke heaven sijui tufanye je. No if Kenyan system bails out renter’s and not defer loans…. Down down fown we go! “will we look and witnessing all our earned money/msth/brain go down…. I want my renters to only pay for stima……we can try bail out maji… And let them stay rent free… But for how long my friend…
Haki hutu tuloans tulijiwekelea…. Wacha tu Mimi sisemi.. Owing to my calendar yr 2025 we were to be done haki..
For now I took a sleeping pill and Tylenol for body aches
I prayed for our tenants not to catch covid 19” amazing pple they are
We prayed for the mwakilishi guy who told us…. Wekeni kakitu incase mshipiwe Kenya and home is the best
Haki these are the feelings in like the days of Nineveh in the book of naham
For no I just pray for good hlth to the world and confirm God is the provider….. He clearly has shown us (he is who he says he is)
Imagine how we gonna appreciate nature and friendships.
Btwn I love you all mwakilishi leaders and contributors..
The only thing that remain is love and understanding ????????
Outcast, you are talking…
Outcast, you are talking about MkenyaHalisi. I am on the same boat….loan in Kenya and uncertain rental payments. Sadly one of my tenants incited the others to stop paying rent. This, despite years of prompt attention to repairs, working with tenants who have problems paying because of circumstances beyond their control, reliable water, security, electricity etc. May I suggest you call the bank in Kenya. My bank has been quite reasonable and we’ll continue taking the “pulse” on the ground and hopefully come out the other side with few bruises. Friends with property here are quite nervous on keeping up with mortgage payments as well.
@Nani, sad to hear that some…
@Nani, sad to hear that some of your tenants have been incited not to pay their rent even when they possibly can, but are using the Covid-19 situation as an excuse.
Out of curiosity, do you use an agent to do the rent collection or you do it yourself, perhaps with the aid of a relative?
Soldieron. I have an agent…
Soldieron. I have an agent and a caretaker who are both quite good.
Thanks for letting me know…
Thanks for letting me know. I have the same arrangement, but this month went fine. Will see how May goes.
Hehehehe am here guys!Thank…
Hehehehe am here guys!Thank God zangu hazina loan does they r paying half price n i can kick them out anytime i don’t give a damm about this stupid union?So wakikataa kulipa kick them out.Ask the agent to cut water n electricity n stop the sewage n they will kick themselves out.In my units i have an alarm in every house incase of fire i will turn it on n it makes very bad noise n only me who can shut it so incase anybody akatae kulipa i switch the damm alarm on n i have no choice but to stay outside.Iff uhuru wants to help kenyans he will.I ask again pesa ya bbi ilitoka wapi juu it wasn’t in the budget.