Buying, selling and renting a home in The Gambia

Advice for your residential property transaction.

Solie Law Chambers assists buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants with residential property matters in The Gambia. You may be arranging a family home, selling a compound, letting an investment property or managing a transaction while living abroad.

Tell us which property is involved, who the other parties are and how far discussions have progressed. We can then discuss the legal work needed, the documents to review and any dates that matter.

Buying a house, apartment or compound

The review begins with the property being offered, the seller’s claimed ownership and the proposed agreement. We can examine the available documents, identify further enquiries and discuss the terms before you commit to the purchase.

• Ownership and authority: the documents relied on by the seller and anyone acting on the seller’s behalf.
• The property and occupation: its description, boundaries, access, existing occupiers and any shared areas.
• Payments and handover: the deposit, balance, conditions, completion date and what will be delivered.
• Transfer arrangements: the signing and subsequent formalities appropriate to the transaction.

Let us know if you have already signed an agreement or paid money. For more detail, see our guides to buying a house or family compound and property conveyancing.

Selling a residential property

We can review the proposed sale terms and help organise the legal documents and completion arrangements. At the outset, explain who owns the property, who occupies it, whether borrowing is secured against it and whether there is an existing dispute.

The work can include reviewing the buyer’s proposed agreement, clarifying payment and possession arrangements, and preparing or reviewing transfer documents. Tell us whether you will sign in The Gambia or need arrangements for signing from abroad.

If tax questions arise in The Gambia or your country of residence, raise them when discussing the scope so the appropriate advice can be arranged.

Renting a home or letting your property

We can prepare or review a residential tenancy agreement for the proposed letting. The terms should reflect the particular property and arrangement, including the rent, payment dates, deposit, duration, repairs, utilities and responsibilities for shared facilities.

Explain whether the property is furnished, who will manage it and how you expect the tenancy to end or renew. An agreement used for an earlier letting may need review when the parties, property or terms change.

If a tenancy has already begun, tell us about the signed agreement, payments, correspondence and any notice or dispute. See rental agreements and tenancy disputes.

Arranging the transaction from abroad

Tell us where you are based, who will give instructions and whether somebody in The Gambia is acting for you. We can discuss document review, communication and signing arrangements, including whether a power of attorney needs to be prepared or reviewed.

For a purchase, explain your nationality and the proposed ownership arrangement at the start. Our foreign property ownership guide sets out questions to discuss.

Agreeing the scope and legal fees

You may need a review of a draft contract, assistance with a tenancy or legal work through a sale or purchase. We will discuss the requested scope, the information available and what further work may be needed.

If you request a contract review, agree whether ownership enquiries, searches, negotiations, completion or registration work are also included. A survey, building inspection and valuation require separate professional input.

Ask for an estimate that identifies the legal work, applicable taxes and official charges, and any other professional costs. Tell us about travel plans, payment dates or other deadlines. Read our fees and instructions guidance.

Looking for a property or planning to build?

For available homes and other listings, visit the associated Gambia Property Sales website. Ask about the practice’s role and representation when discussing legal work on a listed property.

For a building plot or a larger project, see buying a building plot, property development or our full property and land services.