Short lets are usually classified as anything less than six months, while long lets are constituted as anything from an year. This may vary slightly depending on the landlord in question, so it makes sense to discuss this with your letting agent before you make your decision.
When you and the landlord agree on the terms of your rental you will be required to pay one month’s rent in advance, as well as a deposit. The amount of the deposit will be confirmed by your landlord, but is usually equivalent to one month’s rent.
You will be required to leave the property the same way that you found it. You could choose to clean it yourself, or hire a cleaning company. You will also need to go through the inventory to ensure that all the items are still there and in good working condition. Finally, you will need to hand over all sets of keys to the landlord.
If you would like to renew your agreement, you can liaise directly with your landlord to discuss the conditions The agency does not need to be involved at this stage.
An inventory is a list of all the items included in the rental of your apartment. This could be everything from furniture and soft furnishings, to electronics and kitchenware. Your landlord will probably go through the inventory with you, but it makes sense to check this yourself to ensure everything has been included and that it is all in good working order. When it is time for you to vacate the property, be sure to check that you are leaving everything on the list in the property and in the condition that it was provided, as otherwise this could be deducted from your deposit.
Again, this depends on the landlord and the state of the property. If it has already been vacated and is in a good condition, then you may even be able to move in the immediately. Alternatively, you may want to start your lease on a fresh week or month. On the other hand, if work still needs to be done on the property, then you could agree on a date between you or the landlord and move in accordingly.
At RE/MAX Kenya our agency fees amount to 100% of the first month’s rent. These fees are applicable to the landlord.