Quick answer
Title deed loans in Kenya are secured by a charge registered on your land. Harambee SACCO lends members up to 80% of developed property value, with an example rate of 13.8% a year. Mwananchi Credit quotes from 1.5% a month and Tamika Credit 5% a month plus fees. Stamp duty on a charge is 0.1% of the amount secured.
Updated 18 October 2026
A title deed loan lets you borrow against land or a house you own. The lender registers a charge on your title at the Lands registry, holds the original title deed, and returns it once you have repaid. Banks, SACCOs and non-bank credit companies all lend this way, but their rates, loan sizes and speed differ widely: one SACCO quotes 13.8% a year while one credit company quotes 5% a month. This guide lists title deed lenders whose terms we could confirm on their own websites, explains the official charge registration costs and sets out the risks before you pledge your land.
In this guide
Title deed lenders compared
| Lender | Type | Published terms |
|---|---|---|
| Harambee DT SACCO | Deposit-taking SACCO (members only) | Up to 80% of value for developed property, 70% for undeveloped; example rate 13.8% a year; up to 48 months on development loans |
| Mwananchi Credit | Non-bank asset finance company | Up to 80% of property value; rates from 1.5% a month; same-day approval possible |
| Tamika Credit | Non-bank credit company | 5% a month interest, 5% processing fee, KSh 40,000 to KSh 60,000 upfront fee; 3 to 24 months |
| Co-operative Bank | Commercial bank | Confirms title deed loans are possible; requirements depend on the loan type and are given at the branch |
Harambee DT SACCO
Harambee SACCO accepts title deeds and certificates of lease as security under its collateral-based lending policy, which it says helps members who need large loans but cannot find enough guarantors. Key terms:
- Loan to value: up to 80% for developed property and up to 70% for undeveloped property.
- Loans are still capped at four times your deposits, as with other BOSA loans.
- Interest follows the product: its example is a Jisaidie 72 loan secured by a title deed at 13.8% a year.
- A development loan secured by a title deed can run up to 48 months.
- The property must be within a county municipality. Agricultural, community and ancestral land may not be accepted.
The process runs from a site visit, to a letter of intent for valuation, to a letter of offer signed before an advocate and commissioner of oaths, then registration of a first-ranking charge. The loan is paid out after a post-charge search confirms the charge. The member pays valuation, registration, stamp duty and legal costs.
Mwananchi Credit
Mwananchi Credit, an asset finance company with branches in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret and Kisumu, advertises title deed loans of up to 80% of property value at rates from 1.5% a month, with same-day approval possible. It asks for an original title deed free of encumbrances, national ID, KRA PIN certificate, passport photos, six months of bank statements and proof of income. Its main line is 0709 147 000.
Tamika Credit
Tamika Credit publishes the most detailed cost breakdown of the lenders here, and it shows how expensive non-bank borrowing can be:
- Interest of 5% a month on the loan.
- A processing fee of 5% of the principal.
- An upfront fee of KSh 40,000 to KSh 60,000 to cover the land search, valuation and legal charging.
- Terms of 3 to 24 months, with an interest waiver if you clear the loan early. The same page also mentions repayment over up to 36 months, so confirm the maximum term before you sign.
Documents include the original title deed in the borrower’s name, ID and KRA PIN copies, 12 months of M-Pesa and bank statements, the next of kin’s ID, a passport photo, a land visit with a Google map pin, an official search and postdated cheques. Tamika says it lends to people with a wide range of credit scores.
To see what these rates mean: on KSh 500,000, 5% a month is KSh 25,000 in interest every month on the full amount, before the KSh 25,000 processing fee and the upfront fee. A SACCO loan at 13.8% a year costs a small fraction of that.
Banks
Commercial banks also lend against land, usually as part of secured personal, business or development loans and mortgages. Co-operative Bank says a title deed loan is possible but the requirements depend on the loan type and are given at the branch. Banks usually want proof of regular income, a professional valuation, an official search and full legal documentation, so they are slower than credit companies but normally much cheaper. Plot loans from banks such as Equity and Family Bank are different: they fund the purchase of a plot rather than lending against land you already own.
What the Lands registry charges
Whoever you borrow from, the charge has to be registered against your title. According to the State Department for Lands:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Stamp duty on a charge | 0.1% of the amount secured |
| Stamp duty on a discharge | 0.05% of the amount discharged |
| Registration (charge or discharge) | KSh 1,000 plus a KSh 2,500 title fee |
A charge needs the charge instrument, consent, spousal consent, the original title, proof of stamp duty, ID or passport, KRA PIN certificate and two photos. A discharge, once you repay, needs the discharge instrument, original title, stamp duty proof, ID, PIN and two photos. Valuation and lawyer’s fees are on top of these.
Spousal consent
Section 79(3) of the Land Act says a charge over a matrimonial home is valid only if the borrower’s spouse or spouses living there sign the charge documents or clearly assent to them. Lenders therefore ask for spousal consent, and a charge without it can be challenged. If the land is jointly owned, all owners must sign.
Before you pledge your land
- Search the title first. Lenders want a clean title with no existing charges or cautions. Do your own land search on Ardhisasa so you know what they will find.
- Make sure the title is in your name. Inherited land still in a deceased parent’s name must go through succession first. Our guide on how to get a title deed covers the process.
- Compare total cost, not the headline rate. Add interest, processing fees, valuation, legal fees and stamp duty, and work out the monthly instalment with our loan affordability calculator.
- Know the default risk. A registered charge gives the lender the right to sell the land if you fail to pay, after the notices the law requires. Borrow only what your income can repay.
- Check your credit record. Banks and SACCOs check the credit bureaus. See how to check your CRB status.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a loan using a title deed in Kenya?
Yes. Banks, SACCOs and credit companies lend against land by registering a charge on the title until the loan is repaid.
How much can I borrow against a title deed?
Usually up to 70% to 80% of the property’s valued price. Harambee SACCO lends up to 80% for developed property and 70% for undeveloped land.
What is the stamp duty on a land charge?
0.1% of the amount secured, plus KSh 1,000 registration and a KSh 2,500 title fee, according to the State Department for Lands.
Do I need my spouse’s consent for a title deed loan?
Yes if the land is your matrimonial home. Section 79(3) of the Land Act requires the spouse living there to sign or assent.
Which is cheaper, a SACCO or a credit company?
Usually a SACCO or bank. One SACCO quotes 13.8% a year, while one credit company quotes 5% a month plus fees.
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