Finding land and property in The Gambia

What should I include in a property search brief?

Describe the intended use, approximate budget, preferred location, size and essential access or service requirements. A home, agricultural holding, rental property and development site can raise very different questions.

For example, a buyer looking around Fajara, Kololi or Brufut may prioritise an existing building and services. A search around Sanyang, Gunjur or inland areas may place greater emphasis on land use, access and site conditions. The actual plot and records need review; an area name alone does not establish suitability.

How should I compare properties on a shortlist?

• Identify each site precisely, with its location and available plan.
• Ask who is selling and what authority an intermediary has.
• Request the available ownership documents and proposed terms.
• Record current use, occupation, access and any unresolved dispute.
• Separate verified information from statements in an advertisement.
• List the surveys, valuations or technical advice still needed.

Keep written notes for each option so differences in price, tenure and practical requirements are visible. A lower advertised price may come with unresolved costs or restrictions.

Who is finding the property, and who represents me?

Ask whether a person introducing the property acts for you, the seller or another party, and whether they receive a fee or commission. Agree the role, payment trigger and scope before relying on their assistance.

The associated Gambia Property Sales website carries property listings. Availability and terms need confirmation. A property introduction and a legal instruction are separate arrangements; ask who Solie Law Chambers can represent and whether another role in the transaction needs to be addressed.

What extra questions arise with farmland or coastal land?

For farmland, identify existing users, access routes, water arrangements, boundaries and whether the planned activity is compatible with the land and required permissions. Agricultural and environmental expertise may be needed alongside the legal work.

For coastal or low-lying sites, seek appropriate advice on site conditions, flooding, erosion, access and restrictions before assuming that a building project is feasible. Photographs and a seller’s description cannot settle those issues. The building plot guide provides a more focused starting point for a home-building project.

When should the legal review begin?

Bring the available documents for a shortlisted property to the firm before agreeing a binding offer or paying a reservation amount. Explain any deadline imposed by the seller and any promises made about future approvals or infrastructure.

Our property buying guide explains the wider purchase process. The due diligence checklist helps identify the information to request, while the conveyancing guide covers the transfer work.

How are search assistance and legal fees agreed?

Request a current written proposal for the work you need. Confirm whether it covers introductions, negotiations, legal review, conveyancing or other services, and whether third-party charges are additional.

If a fee depends on finding or acquiring a property, establish when it becomes payable and what happens if the transaction does not proceed. Current terms should be confirmed for your instruction. Read our legal fees guidance before proceeding.