My landlord sold the building: is my tenancy still valid?
Land Act, 2012 · sources read 5 Oct 2026
A sale does not by itself end your lease. When the landlord's interest passes to a new owner, the landlord's duties under the lease pass with it, and the new owner can enforce your duties, unless the lease or other circumstances show otherwise. Rent you pay the old landlord still counts until you actually learn of the sale.
- Where
- Rent Restriction Tribunal (homes under the Rent Restriction Act); Business Premises Rent Tribunal (business premises); Environment and Land Court
Steps
- Keep paying rent as agreed. Payments to the old landlord count until you have actual notice of the sale; after that, pay the new owner.
- If your tenancy is periodic (for example month to month), the new owner can end it only with notice at least as long as the rent period, ending on a rent day.
- For a dispute over a home under the Rent Restriction Act, go to the Rent Restriction Tribunal. For a shop or other business premises, go to the Business Premises Rent Tribunal.
- Other disputes under the Land Act go to the Environment and Land Court or the subordinate courts empowered by law.
Watch out
- The rule that lease duties pass to the new owner applies unless a contrary intention appears from the lease or other circumstances.
- Registering the transfer at the land registry is not, on its own, actual notice to you of the sale.
- As long as you pay rent and keep the lease terms, you are entitled to quiet possession without interruption from the landlord or anyone claiming through the landlord.
Who this covers
- Tenants whose landlord's interest is sold, transferred or passes to someone else by law.
- Tenants without a written agreement too: renting at a rent with exclusive occupation counts as a periodic tenancy.
Official sources (2)
- Land Act (Cap. 280, No. 6 of 2012), version of 4 November 2025 new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Tribunals: Frequently Asked Questions tribunals.judiciary.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026