Form LRA 53 (Charge) is a statutory land security instrument used in Kenya to create a legal charge over registered land in favor of a lender as collateral for a loan or financial obligation. This document is jurisdiction-specific to Kenya and is prescribed under regulation 67(1) of the Land Registration (General) Regulations, 2017, made pursuant to the Land Registration Act, 2012, and read together with the Land Act, 2012. It is the principal form used by banks, financial institutions, and other secured creditors when lending againsta land title.
This advocate-reviewed template, available for download on wansom.ai, is intended for chargors (landowners), chargees (banks, SACCOs, microfinance institutions, and private lenders), borrowers (including third-party borrowers), conveyancing advocates, property developers, corporate entities, land registrars, and legal practitioners involved in secured lending and real estate finance in Kenya. It is commonly used for term loans, mortgage financing, business loans secured by property, and continuing securities attached to debentures or other financial instruments.
The Form LRA 53 requires key particulars including the title number, full details of the chargor and chargee, the principal amount secured, borrower details (where the loan is for a third party), and supplemental information such as the principal lending instrument, stamp duty paid, and receipt details. The charge expressly authorizes the registration of the security under Kenyan law and allows the lender to exercise remedies in case of default. Importantly, the form includes a mandatory Acknowledgement of the Effect of Section 90 of the Land Act, 2012, ensuring that the chargor understands the lender’s statutory remedies before enforcement.
Execution requires sealing by the chargor (for corporate entities), verification under Section 45 of the Land Registration Act, and attestation by an advocate. Where the bank acts through attorneys, powers of attorney must be cited and verified. Upon registration, the charge is entered in the Encumbrances Section of the title, giving the lender priority protection.
This compliant, ready-to-use template streamlines mortgage registration, reduces drafting risk, and ensures lawful creation and perfection of land-based security within Kenya’s land registration system.