How Real Estate Agents in Kenya Are Collecting Rent

In today’s digital-first world, industries across the board are adopting tech to simplify operations — and real estate is no exception. A recent survey sheds light on how real estate agents in Kenya are embracing technology in one of the most critical parts of property management: rent collection.

Let’s dive into the data and what it tells us about the evolving face of rent transactions | Source: 2023-24-Real-Estate-Survey-Report

🧾 Software in Rent Collection

When asked whether they use software for rent collection, only 47.2% of real estate agents said yes. The majority — 52.8% — still collect rent manually, without the support of dedicated software.

This means that more than half of agents are likely managing lease agreements, tenant screening, rent reminders, and accounting the old-fashioned way — with spreadsheets, phone calls, or even pen and paper. Considering the administrative load involved, there's a big opportunity here for software companies to bridge the gap.

Why it matters: Software doesn’t just automate rent collection. It can streamline the entire rental process — from screening tenants to issuing receipts and managing arrears.

💸 How Are Agents Collecting Rent?

Beyond the tools used, the survey also explored the channels through which rent is paid. Here's how it breaks down:

1. 74.6% of agents use bank transfers

2. 25.0% rely on mobile money platforms like Mpesa, Airtel Money, and T-Kash

3. Only 4.0% still collect rent in cash

The dominance of bank transfers is a clear signal that digital payments are now the norm in Kenya’s property market. However, mobile money — despite its deep roots in Kenyan financial culture — only accounts for a quarter of transactions.

What’s interesting: Mobile money's 25% share suggests a potential area of growth, especially for lower-tier landlords or in areas where banking infrastructure is limited.

🧠 Key Takeaways

1. Digital, but not fully automated: While bank transfers are popular, nearly half of real estate agents still don't use software for managing rent. This shows a partial digital transition — one that’s ripe for full automation.

2. Cash is almost dead: With only 0.4% of agents using cash, the market has clearly moved on. Convenience, traceability, and safety are driving this shift.

3. Opportunities for innovation: There's room to create tools that merge mobile money platforms with property management features — especially for agents or landlords who serve tenants without easy access to banks.

   
   

📌 Thoughts

The Kenyan real estate market is inching toward digitization, but there's still ground to cover. With just under half of agents using rent collection software, the industry is balancing between traditional methods and tech-driven efficiency. The question is no longer if digital tools will take over — but when.

As property tech startups, and property managers look to the future, one thing is clear: automation isn’t just the future of rent collection — it’s a competitive advantage.