For home owners
How to sell a house in Kenya
Prepare the paperwork, price from real listings, present the home well and close through advocates.
- Buyers contact you directly
- Video and 360 tours
- Zero commission
In short
To sell a house in Kenya, prepare the title or lease, your ID and KRA PIN, a recent official search, rates and land rent clearance, and spousal consent if the home is matrimonial property. Price it against similar homes for sale in the same area, list it with good photos and a video tour, and agree a sale agreement through advocates. The buyer pays stamp duty, the seller pays capital gains tax of 15% of the net gain, and a typical transfer takes 45 to 90 days.
Reviewed by the Kenya Home Search team. General information, not legal or tax advice.
Paperwork
Documents to prepare
- Title deed, certificate of lease or, for an apartment, the sectional title or lease
- Your ID or passport and KRA PIN
- A recent official search showing you as owner
- Rates clearance from the county and land rent clearance for leasehold
- Service charge clearance from the management company for apartments and gated estates
- Spousal consent if the home is matrimonial property
- If there is a mortgage, a redemption statement from the bank, which releases the title on payoff
Step by step
From listing to completion
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Step 1: Set a realistic price
Compare asking prices for similar homes in the same estate, for example 3 bedroom houses for sale in Ruiru or apartments in Kilimani. A registered valuer gives a formal valuation.
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Step 2: Fix and clean first
Small repairs, fresh paint and a tidy compound show better in photos and at viewings.
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Step 3: Photograph and film it
Daylight photos of every room and the outside, plus a video walk-through or 360 tour for buyers abroad.
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Step 4: List it free
Create your free listing. Buyers reach you on WhatsApp, phone or email.
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Step 5: Hold safe viewings
Confirm the buyer's name before a viewing, have someone with you, and keep documents and valuables away.
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Step 6: Close through advocates
Agree the sale agreement through advocates. The deposit, often 10%, is usually held by an advocate as stakeholder, and the balance is paid on completion.
Buyers abroad
Selling to Kenyans in the diaspora
Buyers abroad shortlist from photos and video, then ask for a live viewing. Offer a live WhatsApp video walk-through and point them to our remote viewing guide. Many will ask their own advocate to run an official search before they commit, so keep your documents ready.
Selling a new development or several units? See advertising for developers.
FAQ
Common questions
General information, reviewed . It is not legal or tax advice: an advocate confirms the steps for your transaction.
How do I sell my house in Kenya without an agent?
List it yourself for free, price it against similar homes for sale, show it to buyers, and use an advocate for the sale agreement and transfer. Kenya Home Search lets buyers contact you directly with no commission.
What taxes does the seller pay?
The seller pays capital gains tax of 15% of the net gain, paid to KRA. The buyer pays stamp duty of 4% in urban areas and 2% in rural areas.
How long does it take to transfer a house?
A typical transfer takes 45 to 90 days from signing the sale agreement to registration.
Can I sell a house that still has a mortgage?
Yes. Your bank issues a redemption statement, the balance is paid from the sale proceeds through the advocates, and the bank discharges the charge so the title can transfer.
Does Kenya Home Search negotiate with buyers for me?
No. Kenya Home Search is a marketing board, not an estate agent. Buyers contact you directly and you agree terms with them through your advocate.