If you’re an adult with a stable income, the thought of buying land has probably crossed your mind. Owning land is a crucial part of securing your future and that of your offspring. Land is an appreciating asset making it one of the best investments. That is why it is important for one to conduct a land search.
Many people spend years saving up their money so they can buy a piece of land. When the time comes to buy land, it’s necessary that you follow the right procedure to ensure that the process is completed successfully.
Buying land in Kenya is a quick and seamless process that can be done from the comfort of your phone. With the help of land selling agencies and brokers, interested buyers can identify and purchase land without having to travel to the location. However, you still have to do your due diligence as a buyer to avoid falling victim to cons who are after your hard-earned money.
Whether you’re buying through an agent or directly from the seller, you should always do a search before proceeding with the purchase. A land search is the process of finding information about a specific piece of land from the land registry.
The search offers key information such as:
- Name of the current owner
- Ownership history
- Title deed number
- Land size
- Encumbrances e.g mortgages, disputes
Conducting a land search is a fairly easy process that can be done online or physically. Here is a guide on how to conduct a land search in Kenya.
Requirements to conduct a land search in Kenya
Before conducting the search, you need to have the following:
- Copy of your National ID or passport and KRA PIN
- Copy of the seller’s national ID and KRA PIN
- Copy of the title deed or title deed number
- Land search fee
Online process
The digitization of land processes, including conducting a land search, was introduced in 2021 to allow citizens access information about land without the hassle of going to the Ministry Of Lands office. Here’s how to conduct a land search online in Kenya.
- Visit the arshisasa website, click on the three dots on the top right corner and select Login
- If you don’t have an account, create one using your ID
- Once you have logged in, click on the three dots on the top right corner and select Services then select Search
- Alternatively, you can click on Search Property on the homepage after logging in
- Enter the Title Deed number and details of the title deed
- Pay the land search fee (Ksh 1,000) through MPESA or card
- Download the results in PDF format. The document will contain the current owner’s details, size of the property, any restrictions or disputes
Physical process
For those who might not have access to the internet or prefer the manual process, here’s how to conduct a land search manually in Kenya.
- Go to the lands registry office where the piece of land is located
- Carry the required documents ie your national ID, a copy of the title deed/title deed number, a copy of the seller’s national ID and KRA PIN, and the land search fee
- Fill out the Land Search Application Form (Form RL 26)
- Attach a copy of your ID and KRA PIN
- Pay the land search fee (Ksh 500) at the cash office
- Attach the payment slip and submit the application to the registrar
- Wait for 2-3 days for processing then pick the official search certificate from the land registry office