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Buying

How to Verify a Title Deed in Kenya, Step by Step

The single most important thing you do before paying for land is confirm the seller actually owns it — and that nothing is hidden behind the title.

GETYOURHOME Intelligence· Buyer Guides· 18 May 2026· 8 dakika kusoma

Most property fraud in Kenya comes down to one thing: the "seller" did not own what they sold, or the land was not what it seemed. Verifying the title protects you from the most expensive mistake you can make. Do it before any money changes hands — deposit included.

1. Get the title details and run an official search

Ask the seller for a copy of the title deed and their national ID. Then conduct an official land search at the relevant Lands Registry, or online through Ardhisasa where the parcel is digitised. The search reveals the registered owner, the size, and any encumbrances (charges, cautions, caveats). Crucially — you run the search yourself. Never accept a search result the seller provides.

2. Confirm the owner matches the seller

The name on the search must match the ID of the person selling to you. If a company owns it, ask for the certificate of incorporation, CR12 and board resolution authorising the sale. If an agent or relative is acting, insist on a valid, registered power of attorney.

3. Match the title to the map and the ground

Obtain the registered index map (RIM) or a survey/mutation to confirm the parcel number, size and boundaries. Then visit the land physically with a licensed surveyor and beacons, ensuring the plot on paper is the plot on the ground. This step catches "selling the wrong plot" and boundary-dispute traps.

4. Check for consents and clearances

  1. Spousal consent where the property is matrimonial.
  2. Land Control Board consent for agricultural land — a sale without it can be void.
  3. Rates clearance (from the county) and rent clearance (from the Lands office) confirming nothing is owed.
  4. For sectional/apartment titles, confirm the management company status and any service-charge arrears.

5. Only then, structure payment safely

Pay through your advocate, in stages tied to milestones — never cash to a stranger before a search. Keep every receipt. On GetYourHome, listings carry a trust score and verification level precisely so you start from verified providers, but the legal search is still non-negotiable on every deal.

Title DeedLand SearchArdhisasaDue Diligence

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