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Property Transfers. Title Searches. Land Due Diligence. Leases. Real Estate Development.
Buying land. Selling property. Developing a project. Negotiating a lease. Every real estate transaction in Kenya carries risk — fraudulent titles, encumbrances, unpaid rates, boundary disputes and defective ownership chains. You need conveyancing lawyers who verify everything before you commit. F.M. Muteti & Co. Advocates are Kenya's trusted real estate & conveyancing lawyers — handling title searches, property transfers, lease agreements, land due diligence and real estate litigation across Nairobi, Mombasa and nationwide. 20+ years. 1,110+ Google reviews. Two offices.
Speak to our conveyancing lawyers today. We'll conduct due diligence, verify titles, prepare transfer documents and protect your investment from day one.
📋 Book Your Consultation → 📞 Call Now: +254 769 554 444 WhatsApp Us Directly🔒 Attorney-client privilege applies from first contact.
Fraudulent titles. Encumbered land. Unpaid rates. Double allocations. Boundary disputes discovered after completion. In Kenya, property transactions go wrong when buyers skip due diligence and sellers hide defects. The only protection is a conveyancing lawyer who verifies every detail before a single shilling changes hands.
You paid millions for land — only to discover the title was forged, the property is subject to a court order, there's an undisclosed caveat, land rates are in arrears or the seller didn't have authority to sell. Without a proper title search, encumbrance check and verification of the ownership chain at the Lands Registry, you're gambling with your investment. In Kenya, this happens every day — and reversing a completed transaction is expensive, slow and often impossible.
Your sale agreement was signed months ago — but the transfer hasn't been registered. Stamp duty was underpaid. The consent wasn't obtained. The Land Control Board refused the application. Documents were rejected at the Lands Registry. Incomplete or defective conveyancing leaves your property in limbo — the title stays in the seller's name, and you have no legal ownership until registration is complete. Every day of delay creates risk.
Boundary disputes. Adverse possession claims. Encroachment. Succession overlaps. County government compulsory acquisition threats. Land disputes in Kenya can freeze your property for years in the Environment & Land Court. Developers lose project timelines. Families lose ancestral land. Without a lawyer who handles both conveyancing and ELC litigation, you're paying two firms to solve one problem.
We handle end-to-end conveyancing — from drafting and reviewing sale agreements through to completion and registration. This includes preparation of transfer instruments, valuation coordination, stamp duty assessment and payment, Land Control Board consents (for agricultural land), county government consents, submission to the Lands Registry and collection of the new title deed in the buyer's name. We act for buyers, sellers, developers and banks across freehold and leasehold properties in Nairobi, Mombasa, the Coast, Central Kenya and nationwide.
Before you buy, we verify. Our due diligence covers official title searches at the Lands Registry, confirmation of ownership and encumbrances, verification of the mutation and transfer history, checking for caveats, cautions, charges and court orders, land rates clearance from county governments, survey verification at the Department of Survey, physical site inspection coordination and confirmation of zoning and land use compliance. We issue a comprehensive due diligence report advising whether the property is safe to purchase — or identifying specific risks you need to address before proceeding.
We draft, review and negotiate lease agreements for commercial offices, retail spaces, industrial properties, residential units and ground leases. Our lease documentation covers rent escalation clauses, service charge provisions, repair obligations, break clauses, assignment and subletting rights, security deposits, dilapidations, lease renewal terms and termination procedures. For landlords, we prepare standard lease templates and enforce arrears. For tenants, we negotiate favourable terms and protect against unlawful eviction or overcharges.
We advise developers, landowners and investors on legal structuring for residential estates, commercial buildings, mixed-use developments and gated communities. Our services include joint venture agreements between landowners and developers, construction contracts, NEMA compliance and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), county government approvals and building permits, sectional property registration under the Sectional Properties Act, off-plan sale agreements and buyer protection structures. We also handle disputes with contractors, sub-contractors and consultants.
We act for borrowers and lenders in property-backed financing — preparing and reviewing charge documents (mortgages), loan facility letters, debentures, collateral registration at the Lands Registry and discharge of charges upon loan repayment. We also handle mortgage enforcement and receivership matters when borrowers default, as well as equity release and refinancing transactions. Our team coordinates with banks, SACCOs and private lenders to ensure documentation is legally sound and registration is completed without delay.
When a property owner dies, the land must pass through the succession process before it can be transferred. We handle succession applications — obtaining grants of letters of administration or probate, confirmation of grants, and transfer of property into the names of beneficiaries. We act for families, executors and administrators, resolving disputes over distribution, challenging fraudulent grants and ensuring that inherited land is properly registered under the Land Registration Act. We also handle succession matters for properties held in joint tenancy and tenancy in common.
We litigate land cases in the Environment & Land Court (ELC) — fraudulent title transfers, boundary disputes, adverse possession, trespass, encroachment, double allocations, compulsory acquisition disputes, caution and caveat applications, and enforcement of sale agreements where sellers refuse to complete. We also handle disputes with the National Land Commission, county land boards and the Ministry of Lands. Where injunctions are needed to protect property, we file emergency applications to stop illegal dealings, construction or demolitions pending trial.
We advise on stamp duty calculations only, capital gains tax on property disposals, land rates and rent clearance certificates, waiver applications for historical land rates arrears, change of user applications at county governments, subdivision and amalgamation approvals, and land conversion from agricultural to commercial or residential use. We also assist with compliance under the Land Act, Land Registration Act, Physical and Land Use Planning Act and county-specific by-laws — ensuring your property dealings are lawful, documented and tax-efficient.
"In Kenya's property market, the title deed is only as safe as the due diligence that was done before you bought it."
A disciplined, transparent conveyancing process. We verify everything, prepare precise documentation and ensure your property is registered — safely and on time.
Official title search, encumbrance check, ownership verification, land rates confirmation and comprehensive due diligence report.
We draft or review the sale agreement — terms of sale, payment schedule, conditions precedent, warranties and completion timelines.
We coordinate payment, hold funds in escrow where required, obtain consents and prepare all transfer documents for execution.
We assess and pay stamp duty, submit transfer documents to the Lands Registry and follow up on processing and approval.
We collect the new title deed registered in your name — and deliver it to you with confirmation that the property is legally yours.
"We've seen every land fraud, every title defect and every delayed transfer in the book. That experience is what protects our clients from the same mistakes."
— F.M. Muteti & Co. Advocates
From title searches to ELC litigation — we handle every stage of property ownership in Kenya, protecting buyers, sellers, developers and lenders.
We verify titles, encumbrances, ownership chains, land rates, survey records and zoning — no shortcuts, no assumptions.
From sale agreement to title registered in your name — we handle every document, consent, payment and filing.
When property transactions become disputes, we don't refer you elsewhere. We handle ELC litigation in-house — one firm for everything.
Clear, upfront conveyancing fees before engagement. No hidden charges. You know exactly what the transfer will cost.
Embassy House Nairobi and TSS Tower Mombasa — walk-in service Monday to Friday for in-person consultations.
Every advocate is registered with the Law Society of Kenya, operating under the highest professional and ethical standards.
"FM Law's due diligence saved us from buying a 5-acre parcel in Kiambu that had a forged title and an existing ELC case. They found the issues in their title search and encumbrance check — we walked away and found a clean property instead. Worth every shilling."
"We bought a commercial property in Mombasa through FM Muteti — they handled the sale agreement, Land Control Board consent, stamp duty, transfer and registration. The title was in our company name within 8 weeks. Smooth, transparent and professional from start to finish."
"Someone fraudulently transferred our family land in Malindi. FM Law filed at the ELC, obtained an injunction within 3 days and ultimately had the fraudulent title cancelled and our original title restored. They combined conveyancing knowledge with courtroom skill — exactly what we needed."
Clear answers to the questions buyers, sellers and property owners ask most about conveyancing, title transfers, land due diligence and property law in Kenya. For property-specific advice, speak directly with our conveyancing lawyers.
Book a Consultation →Prefer to call us directly?
📞 +254 769 554 444 — Call NowA conveyancing lawyer handles the legal aspects of buying, selling or transferring property. This includes: conducting a title search and due diligence at the Lands Registry to verify ownership and check for encumbrances; drafting or reviewing the sale agreement; obtaining necessary consents (Land Control Board, county government); assessing and paying stamp duty; preparing transfer documents; submitting documents for registration at the Lands Registry; and collecting the new title deed in the buyer's name. We protect you from fraud, title defects and legal complications that could cost you your entire investment.
Stamp duty in Kenya is charged at 4% of the property value for properties within municipalities and cities (including Nairobi and Mombasa), and 2% for properties in rural areas. The value used is the higher of the purchase price or the government valuation. Stamp duty must be paid within 30 days of execution of the transfer instrument. Late payment attracts penalties. We assess the correct stamp duty, process the payment through the KRA iTax system, obtain the stamp duty certificate and submit it with the transfer documents at the Lands Registry.
A straightforward property transfer in Kenya typically takes 4–12 weeks from signing the sale agreement to receiving the registered title deed. The timeline depends on several factors: speed of due diligence (1–2 weeks), whether Land Control Board or county consent is required (3–6 weeks), stamp duty processing (1–2 weeks), and Lands Registry registration (2–4 weeks). Delays commonly arise from missing documents, unpaid land rates, pending caveats or backlogs at the Registry. We manage the timeline actively, following up at every stage to minimise delays and keep you informed.
A title search (also called an official search) is conducted at the relevant Lands Registry to verify who legally owns the property and whether there are any encumbrances — charges (mortgages), caveats, cautions, court orders, restrictions or other third-party interests registered against the title. It reveals whether the person selling the property is the actual registered owner. In Kenya, where land fraud is common, a title search is the single most important step before buying any property. We also cross-reference the title search with physical survey records at the Department of Survey and inspect the actual property to confirm boundaries match the title.
Yes, but with limitations. Under the Constitution of Kenya 2010, foreigners (non-citizens) cannot own freehold land. They can only hold leasehold interests for a maximum term of 99 years. This applies to both individuals and foreign-owned companies. In practice, foreigners commonly purchase apartments (sectional titles), commercial property and coastal plots on leasehold terms. The conveyancing process is the same — due diligence, sale agreement, consents, stamp duty and registration — but the title will reflect a leasehold interest. We advise foreign buyers on the legal structure, tax implications and any restrictions that apply to their specific purchase.
Act immediately — every day of delay gives the fraudster more time to sell or encumber the property. We take the following steps: (1) conduct an urgent official search to confirm the current status of the title, (2) file a caveat or restriction at the Lands Registry to block any further dealings, (3) file a suit in the Environment & Land Court seeking cancellation of the fraudulent transfer and restoration of the original title, (4) apply for a temporary injunction to prevent the current holder from selling, charging or developing the land, and (5) where applicable, file a complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for prosecution of the fraud. Time is critical — contact us immediately if you suspect your title has been interfered with.
✦ F.M. Muteti & Co. Advocates · Embassy House, Nairobi · TSS Tower, Mombasa
Kenya's trusted conveyancing lawyers are ready to protect your property investment. Due diligence, title transfers, lease agreements, mortgage documentation and land dispute resolution. Transparent fees. Walk-in offices. Let's get started.
We share a commitment to providing our clients with the highest quality and most cost-effective legal services.
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