Rent a house without losing your deposit

The rental scam every Kenyan knows

You find a house online, the "agent" pressures you to send a deposit before viewing "because others are interested" — then the number goes dead, or you arrive to find five other tenants paid for the same house. The rule is simple: never pay for a house you haven't entered. Escrow makes that rule enforceable — your deposit is locked in until you confirm the house is real and yours.

How rental escrow works

• Agree with the landlord/agent — house details, deposit amount, rent, and viewing date.
• Create the escrow — set the viewing date as the deadline.
• Deposit via M-Pesa — the landlord sees confirmed proof you have the money, so they'll hold the house for you.
• View the house, sign the agreement, get the keys — then release the payment from your phone.
• Something wrong? — house doesn't exist, doesn't match the photos, or the "agent" vanishes — raise a dispute and your deposit comes back.

Good uses

• House deposits and first month's rent for landlords you haven't dealt with
• Reserving a house while you travel to view it — common for upcountry moves and campus students
• Shop, office and bedsitter advance payments
• Airbnb-style short-stay bookings arranged directly with owners

For landlords too

Escrow isn't just buyer protection — a funded escrow proves the tenant is serious and has the money. No more holding a house for someone who never shows. The funds arrive instantly once the tenant confirms.