Updated 8 November 2026
Losing a title deed in a fire, a flood, a burglary or a house move is stressful, but the land is still yours. Ownership is recorded in the land register, not in the paper itself. To replace a lost title deed in Kenya, you apply to the Land Registrar with a police abstract and a statutory declaration, and the loss must be published in two local daily newspapers and in the Kenya Gazette. The Ministry of Lands service charter lists a KSh 500 registration fee and a KSh 500 title replacement fee. The new title is processed at the expiry of 60 days from the date of the Gazette notice. This guide walks through each step.
Source: Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning Service Charter (English), published on lands.go.ke (April 2025 upload) and read on 8 November 2026. Fees and steps can change, and areas on Ardhisasa may start online, so confirm at your land registry.
On this page
Replace a lost title deed in Kenya: key facts
| Item | Service charter |
|---|---|
| Service | Replacement of lost title / reconstruction of land register |
| Requirements | Application for lost title or reconstruction; indemnity or statutory declaration; publication in two local dailies; Kenya Gazette publication; police abstract; certified copy of ID or passport; copy of KRA PIN certificate; 2 passport-size photographs |
| Registry fees | Registration KSh 500 plus title replacement KSh 500 |
| Timeline | At the expiry of 60 days from the date of the Gazette notice |
Before you start: confirm the title is really lost
Search the house, your advocate’s office, your bank and any SACCO you borrowed from. Titles are often held as security, and many “lost” titles turn up in a lender’s strongroom. If a lender holds it, there is nothing to replace. Ask the lender for confirmation in writing.
Next, get an official search on the parcel so that you know the register is in order and no one has lodged a transaction. The charter lists issuance of a search certificate as free, with a timeline of 3 days, on a completed application form, ID and a copy of your PIN. In Ardhisasa areas you search online. See our Ardhisasa land search guide.
Documents you need to replace a lost title deed in Kenya
- Police abstract reporting the loss. Report at the police station nearest to where it was lost.
- Indemnity or statutory declaration sworn before a commissioner for oaths, explaining how the title was lost.
- Application for replacement of a lost title or reconstruction of the register, using the prescribed form from the Ministry.
- Certified copy of your ID or passport and a copy of your KRA PIN certificate.
- Two passport-size photographs.
- Evidence of the newspaper adverts (two local dailies) and the Kenya Gazette notice.
Step by step
- Report the loss to the police and get an abstract.
- Swear the statutory declaration or indemnity.
- Lodge the application at the land registry holding the parcel (or online where your area uses Ardhisasa), with your ID, PIN and photographs.
- Publish the notice. The loss must appear in the Kenya Gazette and in two local daily newspapers. This gives anyone with an objection, for example someone holding the original title, a chance to come forward.
- Wait 60 days. The charter timeline is “at the expiry of 60 days from the date of gazette notice”.
- Pay the registry fees: KSh 500 registration and KSh 500 title replacement.
- Collect the new title, which replaces the lost one. The lost title should then have no legal effect.
What it costs to replace a lost title deed in Kenya
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration fee (charter) | KSh 500 |
| Title replacement fee (charter) | KSh 500 |
| Official search (charter) | Free |
| Kenya Gazette notice | At the Government Printer’s prevailing rate |
| Two newspaper adverts | At each newspaper’s prevailing rate |
| Commissioner for oaths, advocate | Agreed privately |
The registry fees are small. Most of the cost is the publications and any professional help, so get quotes before you commit.
If the land is charged or owned by a company
If a bank or SACCO has a charge over the land, tell it before you apply. It may need to consent, or it may hold the title after all. For land owned by a company, the application is made by the company. Have board resolutions, authorised signatories and a recent CR12 ready. For inherited land where the owner has died, succession must be dealt with first. See our succession guide.
Avoiding fraud while you replace a lost title deed in Kenya
- Consider placing a caution on the land if you suspect the title was stolen to defraud you. The charter lists caution registration on a duly filled form, ID, PIN, two photographs and proof of claim.
- Watch the Gazette and the newspapers for any other notice about your parcel.
- Pay fees only through official channels and keep receipts.
- Never hand original documents to brokers outside the registry.
- If your area is undergoing conversion to the Land Registration Act, 2012, read our land title conversion guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to replace a lost title deed in Kenya?
The Ministry’s service charter says the replacement is processed at the expiry of 60 days from the date of the Kenya Gazette notice.
How much are the land registry fees?
KSh 500 registration plus KSh 500 title replacement. Gazette and newspaper adverts are charged separately.
Do I need a police abstract?
Yes. The charter lists a police abstract among the requirements, together with a statutory declaration or indemnity.
Does losing the title mean I lose the land?
No. Ownership is recorded in the land register. The replacement process restores your paper title.
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