Register or discharge a property charge, mortgage, or caveat
From: Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, State Department for Lands and Physical Planning (under Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development)
Published 4 June 2026 · Last updated 4 June 2026
Find out how to formally register a land title deed as security for a loan, lift a bank mortgage once a loan is fully cleared, or lodge a protective legal caveat on a property. This guide covers mandatory land registry rules, documentation checklists, and processing fees on Ardhisasa.
You will leave CitizenGuide.KE to complete the application on an official system.
Quick facts
- Processing time
- 3 to 7 working days (Varies based on legal document validation queues and electronic asset matching logs).
- Base cost
- From Ksh 1,050 to Ksh 5,050+ depending on the transaction type
- How to apply
- Online (Digital submission)
Fees and times can change. Confirm on the official site before you pay.
Before you start
- The property must have successfully undergone digital conversion and be fully mapped under the active Ardhisasa platform ecosystem.
- Both the property owner and the lending institution’s authorized legal officer (or the individual lodging a caveat) must hold active, fully verified digital platform accounts.
Documents you need
- For Registering a Charge: Digitally signed Charge Instrument/Deed, a valid copy of the official valuation certificate, and an active KRA PIN.
- For Discharge of Charge: Digital Discharge Instrument approved and tokenized by the charging financial institution's legal counsel.
- For Cautions/Caveats: A sworn legal Affidavit setting out the applicant’s specific beneficial or legal interest in the property, accompanied by a formal Cautionary Application (Form LRA 69).
Step by step
- Initiate entry and verify property parcel matching
Log into your verified account on Ardhisasa. For registration or caveats, select the legal services option, input the precise land title identifier code, and allow the background engine to pull the active owner parameters from the registry ledger.
- Upload legal execution sheets and assign your advocate
Fill out the transaction parameters and upload your sworn affidavits or digital charge deeds. You must input the active Ardhisasa registration number of your High Court Advocate to route the document to their profile dashboard for formal online witnessing.
- Complete counter-party portal verification
The system automatically triggers an verification token notification. For a bank mortgage or release, the lender's portal manager must log in and digitally sign the matching approval box to complete the contract tracking sequence.
- Pay registry fees and verify the updated land search
Settle the statutory filing fee using the universal government M-Pesa PRN system. Once verified, the Registrar of Lands signs off, modifying the title file permanently. You can run an immediate official search to verify the updated encumbrance status.
Fees and charges
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Registration of a Formal Property Charge / Mortgage Surcharge | Ksh 1,250 |
| Official Registry Discharge of a Property Charge Surcharge | Ksh 1,000 |
| Lodging an Emergency Caveat / Caution (Form LRA 69 Entry) | Ksh 5,000 |
| Withdrawal or formal Lifting of a Previously Placed Caveat | Ksh 1,000 |
| eCitizen Portal Convenience Surcharge (Per application filing block) | Ksh 50 |