🏡 How to Change the Name on a Title Deed in Kenya: Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you're buying land, receiving it as a gift, or inheriting it from a loved one, changing the title deed to reflect your name is not just a formality; it’s how you protect your legal ownership. Here's a clear breakdown of the steps involved:

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1️ Verify Ownership and Gather Core Documents

Before you start any formalities, confirm you’re working with a genuine property.

• 🔍 Get the Original Title Deed – The existing one, still in the seller’s, donor’s, or deceased’s name.
• 📄 Conduct a Land Search – Visit the Land Registry to confirm current ownership status and check for any:
• Cautions
• Charges (e.g. loans or mortgages)
• Restrictions
• 📑 Gather Legal Supporting Documents based on the nature of transfer:
• Sale Agreement (for purchases)
• Gift Transfer Letter
• Certificate of Confirmation of Grant (for inherited land)

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2️ Secure the Necessary Consents

Some transfers require additional approvals before you can proceed.

• 🌾 Land Control Board (LCB) Consent – Especially for agricultural land. Mandatory for most rural and peri-urban land transactions.
• 🏢 Other Consents (if applicable):
• Company Consent – if the land is held in company shares.
• County Government Approval – in some leasehold or planned development areas.

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3️ Stamp Duty Assessment & Payment

This step is all about ensuring the government gets its share and formally values the land.

• 🧾 Valuation by Government Valuer – Coordinated through Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
• 💰 Pay Stamp Duty:
• 2% of the property value in rural/agricultural areas
• 4% in urban areas
• ✅ Collect:
• Stamp Duty Assessment Form
• Payment Receipt (keep this safe!)

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4️ Fill the Transfer of Land Forms

Now comes the paperwork that moves ownership to your name.

• 📝 Complete Form L.R. 19 or 25 – Depending on the land category.
• ✍️ Both parties must sign:
• Seller & Buyer
• Donor & Donee
• Administrator & Beneficiary (in succession cases)
• 📌 Attach:
• Copies of ID/Passport
• PIN Certificate
• Recent passport-size photos

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5️ Lodge the Documents at the Land Registry

Submit everything to the Land Registrar for processing.

🔐 Required documents:

• Original Title Deed
• Fully signed Transfer Form
• Consent letters (LCB or others)
• Stamp Duty receipt
• Supporting documents (Sale Agreement, Succession Grant, Gift Letter, etc.)
• Registration Fee payment

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6️ Receive Your New Title Deed

🎉 The final step!

• The Registrar cancels the previous owner’s name.
• A new title deed is printed in your name.
• A corresponding Green Card entry is updated in the land register; this is the official record of land ownership in Kenya.

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✅ Finally:

A title deed is more than a paper; it's proof of ownership and security for your future. Make sure every step is done right. When in doubt, consult a qualified land advocate to guide you through the process and avoid hidden traps.