Process of Purchasing a plot:
When looking to buy land in Gambia the first thing you should make sure of
is that it does not fall within the Tourist Development Area
(TDA).
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Establish Title Deeds
Once you have decided on a piece of land that you are interested in buying
you should try and first first get written verification of ownership
of the plot from the Alkalo and get a Gambian lawyer
to examine the ownership documents in detail.
You must remember that the
procedure for purchasing from customary owners is somewhat different to that of leased land (preferable & more
straight forward.)
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Customary Tenure:
Preparatory Work
1.
Check with neighbours next to and near the land you want to acquire if
they know who owns the property.
2. Go to the Alkalo of the village to determine from him or her who
currently owns the land.
3. Ask the owner for photocopies of the papers for the plot,
especially the receipts relating to "rates payment" for the previous
and current year.
4. Check with the relevant area council who owns the property, and
also show them the copies of "receipts for payments of the rates" (this would
show who is the current owner of the land in a direct way since the
name of the rate payer is the name of the person who is stated to be
the owner of the property.)
5. After determining who the owner is check their "original ID card" or
passport against the name of the "Transfer of Ownership Form".
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Process of Paperwork:
The document that initiates the
land buying activity in Gambia is
the 'Transfer of Ownership' form.
There are 6 copies and these should be signed by all parties and
witnessed. Before you sign this form it must be accompanied 6
plot sketch plans showing the area you wish to purchase.
The documents should then be signed by the Alkalo (local
chief), Seyfo (district chief) and the relevant local government
body.
Please note that a plot could be owned by a
number of people from the same family called a Kabilo, so
their consent to sell their jointly owned property must be given to
you in writing, witnessed and signed accordingly.
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 The buyer is expected to pay a fee of around D5,000 (about £125)
which should accompany the Transfer of
Ownership Form and is payable at the local government level.
After this stage
There are other documents involved in the buying process along with
other fees.
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Other Documents
Certificate of Occupancy
Land Use Clearance and Transfer
Income Tax Clearance from the sellers
Fencing Permit
Leasing (optional)
 Once you have purchased you plot you must try and get the
property
fenced as soon as possible and if possible paint NOT FOR SALE on
all four sides. This is to discourage anyone trying to 're-sell'
your what you already own. It might be an idea also to put your mobile telephone
number on the wall and build a small single room on the landed
property with no frills at all.
Please note:
Disclaimer
The above process of purchasing land in Gambia is subject to
periodic changes. Always check with the appropriate authorities before
proceeding with any transaction process. Always engage the
services of a lawyer
based in the Gambia before entering into any property purchase,
paying of advances and signing any documents with anyone.
Potential buyers have been known to have been tricked into
'buying'
land that does not belong to the person 'selling'!
Furthermore the same area could have been 'sold' to
2 or more people!
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