Completion Time Frame: 1 day (simultaneous with Step 2)
Completion Costs: no cost
Points to Note:
The Personal Identification Number is used for tax purposes

Step 2: Carry out search of title at the Land Office

Completion Time Frame: 3 days (simultaneous with Step 1)
Completion Costs: KES 250
Points to Note:
In respect of searches on property registered under the Registered Land Act, a copy of the title document is required to be submitted at the time of applying for the search. Also, one cannot carry out a personal search but must instead apply for an official search

Step 3: Obtain Rates Clearance Certificate from the Nairobi City Council and Land Rent Clearance Certificate from the Commissioner of Lands

Completion Time Frame: 30 days (simultaneous with Steps 4 and 5)
Completion Costs: KES 2500
Points to Note:
Seller’s lawyer obtain the Rates Clearance Certificate from the Nairobi City Council and costs KES 2500. Lawyers are not required to be involved in the registration process. Lawyers’ fees are calculated based on a fixed scale depending on the value of the property

Step 4: File the draft transfer at the Lands Office for assessment of stamp duty payable on the transfer

Completion Time Frame: 8 days (simultaneous with Steps 3 and 5)
Completion Costs: 4% of property value
Points to Note:
The draft transfer is prepared by the buyer’s lawyers and needs to be approved by the seller’s counterpart. The stamp duty amount to be paid is indicated when the application is filed, but it takes approximately 7 days to obtain the receipt of payment (obligated to pay with a banker’s check) from the bank. The payment is made directly at the Lands Office.

Step 5: Go to bank to pick up banker’s check to pay Stamp Duty

Completion Time Frame: 7 days (simultaneous with Steps 3 and 4)
Completion Costs: KES 600 (charge for Banker’s check)
Points to Note:
It is mandatory to pay the above-mentioned stamp duty with a banker’s check. The 7 days includes the period between submitting the documents and collecting the receipt.

Step 6: Receive inspection by land officer

Completion Time Frame: 30 days (simultaneous with Step 7)
Completion Costs: no cost
Points to Note:
Once the draft transfer has been filed at the land office, an inspector visits the site to verify the development and state of the property. Due to lack of transport, in practice, the inspector often has to be picked up in person and driven to the site. There are no prior appointments made and the actual inspection may happen within one day or, in the worst case, one month. However, note that this time is not limited and in some cases entrepreneurs may wait months for a valuation.

Step 7: Obtain evaluation of the property

Completion Time Frame: 7 days (simultaneous with Step 6)
Completion Costs: no cost
Points to Note:
The inspector visits the site to evaluate and verify the indicated purchase price of the property in order to ensure accurate tax payment. If the assessed value differs from the one indicated by the parties, an additional payment is requested.
Previously, such inspections were conducted on a random basis, but now every transaction requires such an inspection. The issues involved are similar to the inspections by the land officer and, therefore, may happen within 1 day to up to over one month. The evaluation report itself is completed within a few days of the inspection. Both inspections are required before the completion documents can be lodged with the Lands Office.

Step 8: Lodge the completion documents with Lands Office for registration of the transfer

Completion Time Frame: 6 days
Completion Costs: KES 250
Points to Note:
The completion documents are lodged for registration at the Lands Office.
These documents are obtained from seller’s lawyers, these being original Certificate of Title, Rates Clearance Certificate, Land Rent Clearance Certificate, Consent Transfer .
Inform seller’s lawyers of registration and pay balance of the purchase price.
The certificate of the registered transfer is collected at the Lands Office.