Kenya · Housing
Renting and buying property in Kenya — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
AI-drafted, editorial review pending. The official links below are checked — confirm specifics with the authority.
Under Article 65 of the Constitution, a person who is not a citizen can hold land only on a leasehold of up to 99 years; freehold is reserved for citizens, and transactions in agricultural land need the consent of a Land Control Board. Land is registered under the Land Registration Act 2012, and before buying, an official search at the land registry confirms the registered owner and any charges, cautions or encumbrances; transfers attract stamp duty assessed through the lands office. Most homes are rented under a private tenancy agreement, usually with a deposit of one or two months' rent paid upfront, and the agreement sets the notice period, so read it before signing.
- Non-citizens can hold land only on leasehold of up to 99 years.
- Do an official search at the land registry before buying.
- Rentals are private agreements, usually with one or two months' deposit.
- State Department for Lands — services
State Department for Lands: registration, searches, leases and Land Control Board consent.
Government portals
- Business Registration Service (BRS) — Company, LLP and business-name registration, official searches and insolvency.
- Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) — Tax PINs, income tax, PAYE, VAT, eTIMS invoicing and customs.
- Directorate of Immigration Services — Work permits and passes, permanent residence, eTA and passports.
- Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) — Registration of data controllers and processors, complaints and breach reports.