Property payments, held safely

Property fraud is expensive

Fake title deeds, sellers who don't own the land, "agents" collecting deposits for plots that don't exist — property fraud is one of Kenya's costliest scams precisely because the amounts are large. The safest rule: never send money before verification. Escrow enforces that rule mechanically.

How to use escrow for property deals

• Agree the terms — plot/property details, deposit or full amount, and what documents must be produced.
• Create the escrow transaction — describe the property, set a deadline long enough for due diligence (days, not hours).
• Deposit into escrow by M-Pesa — the seller/agent gets SMS & WhatsApp confirmation that funds are committed.
• Verify everything — title search at the lands registry, eCitizen/Ardhisasa check, site visit, advocate's review.
• Release only when verified — funds move to the seller the moment you confirm.

Good uses

• Land/plot deposits while title verification runs
• Rental deposits and first month's rent to landlords you haven't dealt with
• Agent facilitation payments tied to verified documents
• Off-plan milestone payments

Know the limit

Sellers can receive up to KSh 240,000 per transaction — ideal for deposits, reservations and partial payments. For full property purchase prices above that, use escrow for the deposit stage and complete through your advocate, or contact us about structured payments.