Nairobi, Aug. 24 -- Looking for a house in major cities is no longer just about finding the right neighbourhood or fitting the rent into your budget.

It has become a form of interrogation from landlords and agents.

Prospective tenants are being asked questions that go beyond the basics: What is your salary range? Where do you work? Why are you leaving your current house? Are you married, and do you have children or pets?

For many, some of these questions feel intrusive. Yet for landlords, the stakes have changed. Court rulings and hefty fines against unlawful evictions have made them cautious, prompting stricter screening long before a tenancy agreement is signed.

James Odenyo, a property consultant, explains that over the years, due ...