Very few people actually like their landlords. For those who are living pay check to paycheck, extra rental fees can be a nightmare. Add to that, the fact that housing prices are subject to constant changes that can happen at the flick of a wrist.

To make matters worse, landlords can hike rent prices based on upgrades made to the accommodations. This isn’t a problem if the new fittings were there before a resident moves in.

However, some tenants fail to realize that not all upgrades are taxable. Most residents just complain and argue, then eventually give in to their landlords’ demands. Others threaten to take their complaints to the local authorities while some give up and leave to find cheaper housing units.

1. Heating and Cooling Systems

When weather conditions change in a country like Kenya, most people simply dress accordingly. The more elite members of society can afford to carry the cost of heaters, fans and fitted thermostats. For the average tenant, a thermostat can stay off as long as their contract charges electric fees separately. Woe unto those who live in a place where the landlord is likely to install such a system after they have already moved in.

A central heating or cooling system can lead to extra charges despite the fact that some residents don’t actually need them.

2. Swimming Pools

Apartment blocks with swimming pools are generally more expensive than those that lack such facilities. If a tenant decides to live in an  apartment block with a  pool, their contract sometimes calls for maintenance fees. However, if the pool is constructed after the person’s residency, they don’t have to pay unless they actually use the facility. According to Ricowell Kenya Limited, a local real estate listing company, a 1-bedroom apartment in a block with a communal swimming pool costs about KES 50,000 a month. A similar apartment without a communal pool costs KES 35,000.

3. Gyms

Some local high end housing developments come with a gym. In most cases, the facilities are part of a fixed rental system. Some housing units off Mombasa Road, come with facilities that tenants may never use. Nevertheless, they are still defined as part of the rental fees. Gables Park, for instance, has a gym which is charged as part of the structure.

4. Maintenance

Maintenance is just one of the many ways a landlord can use to hike the rent. If the tenant agrees to pay for maintenance, then they have no reason to argue when the landlord comes to make claims on expenses. If they decide to let the landlord hire a professional, things can get a little bit expensive.

Painting the walls, for instance, may force tenants to dig deeper into their pockets. Some landlords hire a painter and add extra charges to the professional quote so that they can get away with a little bit of extra cash. It might be easier for them to pay the painter directly instead of using the landlord as a middleman.

5. Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates are the sole responsibility of the landlord. Nevertheless, if the bank lending rates rise, landlords leasing their property on a mortgage plan may decide to increase the rent. Tenants don’t take mortgages on rental property. Unless they actually plan on buying the property, residents do not directly pay for mortgages. They may, however, feel the pinch when the landlord decides to raise the rent.

6. Land Rates

Given the recent crackdown on land-rate defaulters, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) warned landlords that hiking rent prices to clear their debts would lead to an increase in taxes. Tenants can be forced to pay more for accommodations if the landlords are desperate to clear their debts.

7. Repairs

Repairs are temporary charges but they can still put a major dent in a tenant’s budget. It may be a broken window or a loose doorknob, but the fact remains that any increment on rental fees is never welcome.

Take, for instance, roofing tiles. A 4 Architect, one of Kenya’s real estate dealers, notes that they  tend to have a lifespan and landlords may charge for damages, even if the roof was old to begin with. A 4 Architect states that clay roofing tiles cost KES 630 per square meter while concrete tiles cost KES 400. The same company reports that clay roofing tiles are more durable than concrete tiles. On top of this, they are also more resistant to rain water.

A tenant making repairs on a damaged roof may choose the cheaper alternative, depending on whether or not they intend to live there for a long period of time. However, greedy landlords may prefer to hire their own contractor to do the job, leaving the tenant clueless about the actual cost of the service.

8. Renovations

According to the Global Property Guide, renovations can increase the value of a structure. Unlike repairs, renovations are more like upgrades. The property is basically getting a face-lift. Renovations may include installing new tiles for a bathroom, replacing window-panes or even trading in old floor plans for hard-wood fittings. For a landlord, this is an investment. It gives him a reason to increase the rental fees. For the tenants, it’s an ultimatum. They can choose to pay up or get out.

As much as a tenant can object to renovations, the real estate database reports that Kenyan laws are pro-land lord. Cap 293 of the country’s Distress for Rent Act even allows landlords to auction the tenant’s property if he fails to pay his rent following a 14 day grace period.