Property Advisory in Nairobi: The Essential Due Diligence Questions to Ask Before Committing

Taking Control of the Conversation

Walking into a property showroom or meeting an off-plan sales agent in Nairobi can be an overwhelming experience. You are presented with gleaming 3D scale models, cinematic promotional videos, lavish show apartments, and glowing projections of 15% rental yields.

Sales agents are trained to guide the conversation toward emotional selling points: Italian marble countertops, German sanitary ware, and rooftop infinity pools. However, savvy property buyers know that long-term real estate success depends on the unglamorous technical, legal, and operational realities behind the walls.

Arm yourself with this authoritative 15-question due diligence questionnaire to uncover the true facts before paying a single shilling.

Category 1: Land Title and Legal Approvals

1. Is the parcel title digitized and verified on Ardhisasa? Request the parcel number and confirm clean title ownership.

2. Is the land encumbered by a bank charge or legal caveat? If charged, confirm that the lender has issued an undertaking for a Partial Discharge of Charge upon full unit payment.

3. Does the project hold all three statutory approvals? Verify the Nairobi City County building approval, the NEMA EIA Licence, and the National Construction Authority (NCA) site registration.

Category 2: Developer Track Record and Solvency

4. How many residential projects has the developer completed in Kenya? Ask for physical addresses of past developments and visit them in person.

5. How is the construction financed? Inquire whether the developer relies entirely on buyer pre-sales or possesses a secured institutional construction loan from a tier-1 bank.

6. Where are buyer deposit funds deposited? Confirm that payments are held in an independent Law Society of Kenya (LSK) advocate escrow account.

Category 3: Architectural and Structural Livability

7. What is the lift-to-unit ratio? Ensure there is at least one high-speed elevator for every 40 to 50 apartments to prevent peak morning delays.

8. What is the true net usable floor area? Demand architectural floor plans with specific room dimensions, excluding exterior common corridor allocations.

9. Is parking deeded or shared? Verify that your parking bay is specifically numbered and legally assigned to your unit in the contract.

Category 4: Infrastructure and Power Autonomy

10. What is the borehole yield and water filtration capacity? Confirm that the borehole water is treated via reverse osmosis to remove mineral hardness.

11. Does the backup generator power the entire apartment? Verify whether the generator supports high-consumption appliances (cookers, water heaters, sockets) or only common lights.

12. Is the building sub-metered with smart prepaid meters? Ensure individual digital meters for water and power are installed to avoid shared utility billing disputes.

Category 5: Post-Handover and Governance

13. What is the itemized monthly service charge budget? Ask what portion of the service charge is allocated to the reserve sinking fund for major future repairs.

14. What are the terms of the Defects Liability Period (DLP)? Ensure the developer provides a contractual guarantee to repair latent defects for at least 180 days post-handover.

15. What are the building house rules regarding short-stay rentals (Airbnb)? Clarify whether the development permits daily rentals, as this directly affects resident privacy and security.

Partner with Transparent Real Estate Advisors at Zuri

At Zuri Estates, we believe in radical transparency. We provide complete technical disclosures, verified title deeds, and clear answers to every question before you make an investment decision.

Explore our vetted residential developments or contact our property specialists for an open, data-driven consultation.