Land literacy
If you own property in Kenya or plan to invest in real estate, understanding property taxes is non-negotiable. From land rates to stamp duty, these taxes directly impact your budget, investment returns, and even your legal ownership. Sadly, many Kenyans only learn about them the hard way — through penalties, disputes, or stalled transactions. This…
Buying a home or apartment off-plan — that is, before construction is completed — has become very popular in Kenya, especially in cities like Nairobi, Kiambu, and Mombasa. Developers often market off-plan projects with attractive prices, flexible payment plans, and modern designs. But is off-plan property the best choice for you? Let’s break down the…
When it comes to buying land in Kenya, one of the most confusing — yet crucial — topics is land tenure. Many first-time buyers jump into deals without understanding whether the land is freehold or leasehold, only to face legal headaches later. This guide explains the difference, the pros and cons of each, and how…
Many Kenyans save for years to buy land or a house — but often, the excitement of closing a deal overshadows the fine print. Beyond the purchase price, there are several hidden costs of buying property in Kenya that can catch buyers off guard. Knowing them upfront helps you budget wisely and avoid surprises. 1….
For many Kenyans, the question of whether to rent or buy a home is one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. With rising property prices, fluctuating rent rates, and expanding mortgage options, the dilemma has only grown more pressing. Should you keep renting and enjoy flexibility, or should you commit to buying and…
Acquiring land in Kenya remains one of the most popular and rewarding long-term investments—so long as you proceed with caution. Unfortunately, fraud, boundary disputes, and legal complications have turned land transactions into potential minefields. Here’s a detailed, expert-backed guide to ensure your journey is secure, smart, and seamless. 1. Confirm Genuine Ownership (Title Deed…
Buildings linked to the high and mighty in society have been reduced to rubble as the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) cracks on structures erected on riparian land. Shell Petrol station, Java Restaurant, South End Mall, all in Nairobi, are some of the major establishments whose owners have been left counting losses amounting to millions…
WHAT IS LEASE EXTENSION? A Lease extension is granted by the government through the National Land Commission (NLC) when the lessee applies for an extension of term before the existing term has expired. A good example is the question above where the lease term of 99 years with effect from 1st January, 1920 still has…
Here are simple steps to be followed when constructing a house Obtain a Survey Plan from Survey of Kenya Obtain a project report from an environmental expert and submit to National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Obtain approval of the environmental impact study from NEMA Submit and obtain approval of the Architectural Plans – The required…
So you think with your title deed under lock and key your property is safe? You pity those who get evicted and wonder how they got duped into buying someone else’s land. But just how safe are your important land ownership and transaction documents at the lands office? Just ask Mr Reuben Wamburu Karoba from…
When one needs to extend or renew a land lease an application is first lodged at the relevant County Government office within which the land is located. This means that the County Land Management Boards (CLMB) of the NLC will play a vital role. Before the same is approved the application is considered by the…
All application for land title deeds and transfer of ownership are done with the help of a lawyer. Kenya has 47 counties and each county has a different land rates details. Some of the steps of acquiring a land title deed can be done on-line while others are done in person. The steps of…
The biggest hurdles boil down to two main factors: the gradient of the slope and whether the site is upslope or downslope. You can get a rough idea of how challenging a particular site will be to build on by its gradient rating. Less than 10% incline is considered slight and is the easiest to…
INTESTATE SUCCESSION This is when there is no will left by the deceased (intestate). In case the deceased left one surviving spouse and a child or children, the surviving spouse shall be entitled to:- • The personal and household effects of the deceased • The intestate property but cannot sell this intestate property as the…
National Land Commission (NLC) will require the following preliminary information and documents to be provided by an acquiring body upon request before the land acquisition or easement can be procured. 1. Prior approval from their respective Cabinet Secretary before the NLC commences the acquisition process. 2. Cadastral drawings showing how the infrastructure cuts out each…
Searching the property portals definitely isn’t all you need to be doing if you want to be a savvy buyer. Discover all you need to know about the homebuying process. I would like to thank Andrew Taylor from the latest law jobs UK for his support and contribution on the conveyancing laws in England and…
Building Valuation of Building Valuation of a building depends on the type of the building, its structure and durability, on the situation, size, shape, frontage, width of roadways, the quality of materials used in the construction and present day prices of materials. Valuation also depends on the height of the building, height of the plinth,…
The issue of land in Kenya has always been an emotive and delicate matter to deal with. In some parts of this country, loudly talking about land is a threat to life. In such places, people only talk about land in hushed tones. Land has caused the loss of lives in some parts of this…
This is unlawful. Interfering with the property of a deceased person is referred to as Intermeddling. To intermeddle means to interfere wrongly with property, or the conduct of business affairs, officiously or without right or title – Black’s Law Dictionary 6th edition. In law, the intermeddler has no legal authority or power to…
Land buying follows the basic principles of law of contract. The seller is supposed to disclose any defects on the title, e.g. if it’s being used as a security against a bank loan. Land buying requires that all legal and contractual procedures are followed to avoid future conflicts, which may lead to double loss. Before…
