26/09/2025
Leasehold or Freehold? 🤔 This is one of the most important questions for property buyers in Kenya, especially for our international clients.
• Freehold: This means you own the land and the building on it outright, forever. It is the highest form of ownership. You have full control over the property, with minimal restrictions (aside from general government laws). It's generally considered a simpler and more secure long-term investment.
• Leasehold: This means you own the building or the right to use the property, but not the land itself, for a fixed period (e.g., 50, 99, or 999 years). The land is owned by a third party, often the government or a community. You essentially "lease" the land. When the lease period expires, ownership reverts to the landowner unless the lease is renewed, which may involve paying a fee. This is common for apartments in Kenya 🇰🇪
👉🏽Key Takeaway: Freehold is like buying a book—you own it completely. Leasehold is like taking a long-term subscription to a book—you can use it for the subscription period, but you don't own the publishing rights.
