Nairobi homeowners who own apartments within blocks and share common areas within apartments will be required to pay county government land rates beginning in January 2024.
The
new rates correspond to the Sectional Property Act of 2021 that is already in
effect. The rates will vary depending on the size and location of the unit.
According
to the Act, each unit owner with a title deed would be required to pay their
own rates.
The
Act also mandates that residents pay for common amenities such as swimming
pools, parking lots, and playgrounds.
Apartment
owners will also be required to open individual accounts to pay their rates.
In
an interview with Citizen TV, Stephen Mwangi-Nairobi County CEC for Built
Environment and Urban Planning said the devolved unit was keen to avoid double
taxation for residents.
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"The
government is sensitive to Nairobi residents and we do not want to overtax
them. We pay the new rates as we did before. The reason you have to pay for the
units is because the owner has transferred ownership to the buyer and as a
buyer, the unit is already registered with a title deed," said Mr Mwangi.
Related: Understand
Nairobi County Land Valuation Rates
The
Nairobi City County Government Finance Act 2022, signed by Nairobi Governor
Johnson Sakaja last year, establishes land rates for residential, commercial,
and agricultural land. They will be required to pay 0.115 percent of the land's
value.
It
further states that those who do not pay their land taxes by the 31st of March
of each year will be charged interest.
"A
person who fails to pay land rates by 31 March of each year in which the rates
are due shall be liable to interest on arrears at the rate of three (3) per
cent per month until the same is paid in full," reads part of the law.
Read: How to
pay Land rate on Ardhisasa
In
accordance with the law, the rates will be determined using a valuation method
established by the township government.
An
acre of land in Westlands will be worth between Sh20 million and Sh35 million,
and an acre of land in Karen will be worth between Sh20 million and Sh35
million.
Comparable
to those in Mihango, Ruthimitu, Upperhill's valuation per acre is between Sh200
and Sh300 million. The estimated worth of Pumwani and Waithaka is Sh20–Sh30
million.
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