The verdict in three sentences
Rental management that collects rent via M-Pesa paybill with auto-generated receipts ends the monthly chase for payments. Automatic reminders cut arrears from 30 % to under 10 % and secure the landlord's cash flow. The agent commission (5 to 10 %) is calculated and deducted automatically on every collection.
Managing a rental portfolio without paperwork
The job is a repetitive monthly cycle: call rent, collect, issue a receipt, chase late payers, remit to the landlord. An app turns that cycle into an automatic flow. Each lease carries the amount, due date, tenant and commission rate.
| Function | Manual management | Rental app |
|---|---|---|
| Collection | Cash/cheque | Mobile money + link |
| Receipt | Written by hand | Generated and sent auto |
| Arrears rate | 25 to 35 % | 5 to 10 % |
| Reminders | Calls | Auto SMS day-3 and day+2 |
| Landlord payout | Manual calc | Auto split net of commission |
| Inspection/tickets | Paper | Photos + maintenance tickets |
Collection, split and dashboard
In Kenya, M-Pesa paybill collects rent and the system automatically matches the payment to the right tenant. On each rent, the app deducts the agent commission and computes the net owed to the landlord. The landlord dashboard shows in real time: rent collected, arrears, vacancy rate and maintenance-ticket status.
| Metric | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|
| Average monthly rent (urban) | KES 25,000 to 60,000 |
| Agent commission | 5 to 10 % of rent |
| M-Pesa paybill fee | 0 to 1.5 % |
| Target vacancy rate | < 5 % |
| App cost (Growth) | KES 1.1m (~2,000,000 FCFA) |
| Auto receipts/month | Unlimited |
Mini case study
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Wanjiru manages 120 units in Nairobi, average rent KES 40,000, commission 8 %. Across 120 rents the agency collects KES 4,800,000/month and its commission is KES 384,000. Before the app, 30 % arrears tied up about KES 1,440,000 in cash flow. With auto reminders and paybill, arrears drop to 8 %, freeing over a million KES and 12 hours of work a month. The app pays for itself in three months.
FAQ
Is the receipt legally valid? Yes: it is dated, numbered, named and archived; the tenant receives it by SMS or email and the agency keeps the full history, usable in a dispute.
Is the commission/landlord split automatic? Yes. On every rent collected, the app deducts the agent commission and shows the landlord net; the payout can be triggered in mobile money with one click.
Can it handle maintenance? Yes, via tickets: the tenant reports an issue with a photo, the agency assigns a contractor and tracks the cost, attached to the unit.
How many units can it manage? From a few properties to several thousand; the Growth version comfortably handles a portfolio of several hundred units across multiple landlords.
Does the landlord see figures live? Yes, a dedicated dashboard shows rent collected, arrears, vacancy rate and downloadable monthly statements, without going through the agency.
Let's talk about your project. We build your rental management app with mobile money collection, auto receipts and landlord commission split. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
