Sierra Leone property law, registration and title checks.
A plain-language overview to help you buy land and property with confidence.
How property law works
Two land systems
In the Western Area (Freetown and surroundings) land is held under a freehold system — it can be bought, sold and registered in an individual's or company's name. In the provinces, much land is held under customary tenure through families and chiefdoms, where transfers involve landowning families and local authorities.
The 2022 land reforms
The Customary Land Rights Act 2022 and the National Land Commission Act 2022 reformed land administration. They strengthen the rights of families and women, require consent and documentation for customary land deals, set limits and conditions on large acquisitions, and create a National Land Commission and local land committees to oversee land matters.
Foreign buyers
Non-citizens generally cannot acquire freehold in the same way as citizens and commonly hold land through long leases or a locally registered company. Rules have changed under the 2022 reforms, so foreign buyers should take legal advice on the right structure before paying anything.
Who oversees land
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning handles surveys, approved survey plans and state land. Deeds and conveyances are registered with the Office of the Administrator and Registrar-General (OARG). Planning and building permits come from the Ministry and local councils.
Registering your purchase
- 1Agree the price and have a lawyer prepare a Conveyance (Deed of Sale) or Lease in the buyer's name.
- 2Obtain a current survey plan signed by a licensed surveyor and approved/countersigned by the Ministry of Lands (Director of Surveys and Lands).
- 3Both parties sign the deed before witnesses; the seller's original title documents are handed over.
- 4Pay the applicable stamp duty and registration fees, then lodge the deed for registration at the Office of the Administrator and Registrar-General.
- 5Collect the registered deed with its registration number, volume and page — this is your proof of ownership. Keep certified copies safely.
- 6Update records with the local council for property rates, and apply for building permits before any construction.
Confirming a plot's legal status before you buy
Search the deeds registry
Have your lawyer conduct a search at the Registrar-General's office to confirm the seller's deed is genuine, registered, and that the chain of ownership is unbroken.
Verify the survey plan
Confirm the survey plan with the Ministry of Lands: check the beacon numbers, plan number and that the plot is not state land, a road reserve, a water catchment or a protected area.
Walk the boundaries
Visit the site with a licensed surveyor to locate the beacons and confirm the plot on the ground matches the plan, with no encroachment by neighbours.
Check for disputes and claims
Ask neighbours and the local community about any claims; check for court cases, caveats or mortgages on the land. For customary land, confirm that all principal family members have consented in writing.
Confirm the seller's identity
Match the seller's national ID to the name on the deed. If a company or an attorney is selling, see the company registration or a registered power of attorney.
Pay safely
Pay through traceable bank transfers or a lawyer's client account — never large sums in cash — and only once the documents check out. Get receipts for every payment.
Warning signs
- The same plot is offered to several buyers, or the price is far below the market.
- The seller only has a photocopy, an unregistered statutory declaration, or refuses a registry search.
- Pressure to pay a deposit before you have seen the documents or the land.
- Beacons are missing, moved, or the plot overlaps a road or state land.
Get a checklist for your plot
Describe the property and we'll generate a tailored due-diligence checklist, or talk to our team.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws, fees and procedures change; always instruct a qualified Sierra Leone lawyer and licensed surveyor before buying.