Most people constantly yearn to buy properties for their families, and in the process, they land in the wrong hands. We have witnessed cases of several people who have ended up losing their hard-earned money to conmen while trying to purchase pieces of land.
What should one know before purchasing a piece of land in Kenya? Muriithi Ngari, an investment consultant, has come up with steps one needs to follow while buying land in Kenya to avoid being conned.
- Ask to see the Title Deed or its Copy. Then do a search at the Ministry of Lands to confirm who the real owners are or if the title has any caveat. The search will cost Ksh 520.
- Do a search with local authorities to check any unpaid land rates. If any, agree with the seller, who will settle the land rates. Note land can’t be transferred if there are unpaid land rates.
- Go to the Ministry of Lands and buy two maps; one shows the exact measurements of the piece you are buying called (mutation), and the other shows the neighbouring lands. Each will cost you KES 350.
- With your two maps and a surveyor (you can do it yourself), visit the land you are buying and verify the details on the map. Check out all the beacons.
- Meet the seller and bargain the price. Write down an agreement. The agreement can be done in the presence of a lawyer. According to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), if the value of the land is below one million, you pay the lawyer KES 3,000. You pay the lawyer Ksh8,000 for the agreement if it’s above one million.
- Pay some amount as per your agreement. Don’t pay for everything even if you have enough money to pay once.
- Book a meeting with the Lands Control Board (LCB). They meet once every month. It will cost you KES 1000. The Lands Control Board (LCB) will issue consent for the land to be sold.
- Pay the remaining balance after getting consent from LCB.
- Go to the Ministry of Lands offices with your KRA PIN, two passport photos and a copy of the title deed to change ownership. It will cost you KES 5,000.
- At this stage, you don’t need the seller. Now gay stamp duty. This varies with the value of the land—4% of sales value in municipalities and 2% of sales value in reserves.
- Now the land belongs to you, but before celebrating, go to the ministry of lands and do a search to confirm if they have updated their records and it reads your name.
If you are a foreign investor coming to Kenya to purchase pieces of land, Identify a reliable real estate or property company to assist you in identifying and purchasing a piece of land. This will help you to avoid falling in the hands of conmen.
