Notice
Most residential leases ask for one month's written notice from either side, although your agreement is what counts. Get notice in writing, note the date it was received, and agree the last day of the tenancy. A tenant who leaves without notice may owe rent for the notice period, as the lease states.
How to move a tenant out, step by step
- Receive written notice and confirm the last day with the tenant.
- On the last day, inspect the unit with the tenant against the move-in checklist.
- Take a final water reading, and record it so the last charge is calculated.
- Add up what is owed: unpaid rent to the last day, final water, and documented repairs.
- Deduct those amounts from the deposit and write an itemised statement.
- Refund the balance within the period the lease states, and collect the keys.
- Move the tenant out in HomeManager, once the money side is settled.
Order matters. Moving a tenant out voids unpaid invoices for that tenancy, so record any payment you have received, and write down anything you are deducting, before you close the account.
Worked example
A tenant pays KES 15,000 rent and holds a KES 15,000 deposit. They give notice on 30 September and leave on 31 October. October's rent is paid. The water meter read 842 at the last invoice and reads 861 on the last day, so 19 units at KES 90 is KES 1,710. A broken window costs KES 2,500 to replace, supported by a receipt.
Deductions are 1,710 plus 2,500, which is KES 4,210. The refund is 15,000 minus 4,210, which is KES 10,790. The landlord sends the statement, pays the refund by M-Pesa, collects the keys, and then moves the tenant out in HomeManager.
How HomeManager handles it
You can move a tenant out in HomeManager, or ask the AI assistant, for example "Move James out of 4B on 31 October". The assistant prepares a card that states the effects before anything changes: the unit is freed, unpaid invoices for that tenancy are voided and portal access ends. It acts only when you press Confirm, and the audit trail records who did it and when.
The deposit is tracked per tenant, so you can see what you hold before you write your final statement. Water readings entered before move-out are added at the property's per-unit rate. The deductions and the refund are your decision, and HomeManager records this against the tenant's account.
Once the unit is free, you can add the next tenant with a move-in date, and the first invoice, including the deposit, is generated in the usual way.
Close each tenancy cleanly.
HomeManager frees the unit, ends portal access and keeps the audit trail, so the next tenant starts fresh.
Get Started with HomeManagerFrequently asked questions
How much notice must a tenant give before moving out in Kenya?
Most residential leases require one month's written notice, but your tenancy agreement sets the period. Get it in writing and agree the last day. HomeManager moves the tenant out on the date you choose.
When must I refund a tenant's deposit after they move out?
Within the period stated in the lease, commonly 14 to 30 days, with an itemised statement of deductions. Hand over the balance by M-Pesa or bank transfer and keep proof.
What happens to unpaid invoices when I move a tenant out in HomeManager?
Unpaid invoices for that tenancy are voided, so settle and record what you are collecting first, and keep your own statement of anything deducted from the deposit.
Can the AI assistant move a tenant out?
Yes. It prepares a card showing that the unit will be freed, unpaid invoices voided and portal access ended. Nothing happens until you press Confirm.