The law surrounding title to land and real estate, especially customary land tenure which forms an integral part of land ownership in The Gambia, can be complex. Thus, it is important to always seek expert advice and a qualified, experienced lawyer to help you navigate the complexities of acquiring real estate in The Gambia, in order to avoid the sham and scam of the real estate industry.

The most common forms of land acquisition in The Gambia are customary land ownership and leasehold ownership. While either of these forms can vest title in the purchaser, it is always prudent and advisable to seek legal counsel before committing to any transaction or contract. The reason being, while leasehold ownership undoubtedly ascertains true ownership of the property, on the other hand, customary ownership can be cumbersome, especially in the face of two or more competitors over the same parcel of land. This latter scenario often ends up in court, where the court must decide the legitimate owner of the property.

We are poised to guide you through the processes and procedures of land acquisition, with great diligence and care, to ensure that your investments in real estate do not go down the drain. We assist in investigating the legitimacy of title documents by conducting searches at the Deeds Registry, Department of Physical Planning and Housing, and the Department of Lands and Survey.

We also assist with drafting deeds of conveyances, assignments, and gifts, as well as the processes involved in transferring legitimate title to the client by obtaining stamp duties at the Gambia Revenue Authority, and at the Ministry of Justice, payment of rates and taxes with the appropriate Area Council, and also the process of applying for converting your customary land title to lease for a much more guaranteed title.

We take diligent steps in advising our clients when purchasing leasehold properties or customary lands in The Gambia in order to avoid falling prey to land scammers.