Buying Land in The Gambia: Titles, Surveys, and Avoiding Scams
Updated 1 July 2026 · 8 min read
Land is the most traded property category in The Gambia and the one where preparation pays off most. The fast-urbanising corridors around Sukuta, Farato, and Busumbala have made land the default first purchase for local families and diaspora buyers alike. It is also where the classic pitfalls live: double-sold plots, disputed boundaries, and “family land” sold without the family’s consent. All of them are avoidable with a disciplined process.
Verify the title before anything else
Ask the seller for the title documents on day one: a lease document or freehold title, the survey plan, and — for customary land — evidence of the alkalo’s attestation and any conversion paperwork in progress. Your lawyer then confirms at the Lands Registry that the documents match the register, the seller is the registered owner, and no encumbrance or dispute is recorded.
If a seller resists a registry search or pressures you to pay a deposit before documents are produced, walk away. Genuine sellers in The Gambia expect these checks.
Check the ground, not just the paper
Commission a licensed surveyor to locate the plot beacons and confirm they match the survey plan. Visit the land yourself at least twice, ideally on different days, and talk to the neighbours — they will know if the plot has been sold before or if ownership is contested. Check road access, flood behaviour in the rainy season, and distance to power and water.
In estate developments such as those around Brufut Heights or the Sukuta–Jabang corridor, ask the developer which plots are already committed and insist your plot number is written into every document.
The red flags that should end a negotiation
Be wary of: prices dramatically below the going rate for the area; a seller who cannot produce ID matching the name on the title; multiple “agents” layered between you and the owner; requests for cash payments with no paper trail; and any suggestion that registration can be “sorted out later”. Each of these features in the disputes that reach Gambian courts every year.
The going rate matters: browse current land listings by town on KerrPoint to calibrate what a plot of a given size should cost in Sukuta versus Brufut versus Farato before you negotiate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a plot of land cost in The Gambia?
Prices vary enormously by location. Serviced coastal plots in Brufut or Bijilo command a large premium over inland corridor towns like Farato or Busumbala, where family-sized plots remain very affordable. Check live listings by town on KerrPoint for current asking prices.
What is the difference between leasehold and customary land?
Leasehold land carries a registered lease from the state (typically 99 years) and is the standard secure title. Customary land is held under traditional tenure through the village alkalo and is not registered until converted to leasehold. Customary land is cheaper but carries more risk — complete the conversion as part of the purchase.
Do I need a lawyer to buy land?
It is not legally mandatory, but buying without one is how most land disputes start. An independent lawyer runs the registry search, verifies the seller, prepares the deed, and registers the transfer. Legal fees are a small percentage of the price and the single best money you will spend.