14/09/2026
When you buy an apartment in Kenya, what title deed do you actually get?
This is a question I think every apartment buyer should ask before signing the sale agreement.
Many buyers are much focused on the price, location, size, swimming pool, gym and other amenities.
But there is another question that is just as important:
“What document will prove that I own this apartment?”
If you buy a standalone piece of land, you are probably familiar with the idea of a title deed for that parcel.
Apartments are a little different.
Under Kenya’s sectional property system, an apartment unit can be separately registered and a sectional title issued for that particular unit.
For example, imagine a development with 100 apartments.
The building may sit on one parcel of land, but after sectional registration, Apartment 305 can be separately identified as its own unit for ownership purposes.
And there is something else many buyers don't realize.
When you buy the apartment, your ownership is also connected to your share or interest in the common property of the development.
That can include areas such as corridors, staircases, lifts and other shared facilities, depending on the registered sectional plan.
So before buying an apartment, don't only ask:
“How much is it?”
Ask:
• How is the property registered?
• Will my unit have a sectional title?
• What exactly does the sectional plan show?
• What is my share in the common property?
• Are there any charges or encumbrances on the property?
• What documents will I receive when the transfer is completed?
These questions can save you from discovering important information after you have already committed your money.
One thing I always believe in real estate:
Don't be impressed only by the building. Understand the ownership behind the building.
The swimming pool can attract you.
The beautiful finishes can excite you.
The location can convince you.
But the documentation is what protects your ownership.
If you are buying an apartment, take time to understand the title and registration structure before committing your money.
Buy the property. Understand the paperwork. Protect the investment.
🌐 www.petlifproperties.co.ke
📞 0722 506 632 | 0713 595 863
Real estate has consistently proven to be one of the most reliable wealth-building tools worldwide, and Kenya is no exception...