The buyer verifies the seller’s title to the property at the Property Registry
Agency: Land Registry, Office of the Administrator and Registrar General
With a copy of the abstract of title the buyer then conducts a search in the property register to verify the seller’s title to the property as well as information regarding the encumbrances on the property.
Time and cost: 5 days, SLL 20,000
A licensed surveyor visits the property and prepares the survey plan
Agency: Licensed surveyor
A private, licensed surveyor visits the property in order to prepare the survey plan. On average, it is expected to pay around SLL 1.5 million for the services of a private surveyor, which includes as well the cost of submitting the survey plan to the Director of Surveys and Lands:
- 1,000/00 for one town lot,
- 10,000/00 for 1 acre,
- 500/00 for change of name in a survey plan.
Time and cost: 20 days, SLL 1,000,000
A licensed surveyor submit the survey plan to the Ministry of Lands and Housing
Agency: Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment
The buyer should obtain a survey plan of the property duly signed by the Director of Surveys and Lands.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Countersignature of the Director of Surveys and Lands on the survey plan of the property
Agency: Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment
In accordance to Section 15 of the Survey Act, CAP 128 of the Laws of Sierra Leone provides for the submission of every site plan to be inserted in a document to be registered. Section 2 of the Survey (Amendment) Act, 1950, mandates that each such plan should be countersigned by the Director of Surveys and Lands. In accordance to Section 15 of the Surveys Act Cap 256 of the Laws of Sierra Leone (as amended by section 2 of Act No 14 of the Laws of Sierra Leone 1960 ), the licensed surveyor will submit the survey plan to the lands ministry on behalf of the buyer. The countersigned survey will be returned to the surveyor who submitted the survey plan to the Director of Surveys and Lands.
Time and cost: 14 days, no charge
Preparation and execution of the sale purchase agreement by a hired lawyer
Agency: Lawyer’s office
Registration of Instruments Act, Cap 256 of the Laws of Sierra Leone and the Stamp Duty Act, Cap 274 stipulate that all registrable instruments have to be prepared and deposited by a legal practitioner.
Time and cost: 7 days, SLL 19,825,318.69 (10% of purchase price)
Obtain a tax clearance certificate from the National Revenue Authority
Agency: National Revenue Authority
The tax clearance is applied for after the deed document is prepared . It is submitted to the NRA on application for tax clearance, and payment of the assessed tax, the deed is stamped on the margin of the front page, and a receipt issued, which is attached to the document. The seller of the property pays 30% of the profit derived from the sale as capital gains tax, and the above certificate is issued. Please note that Capital gains tax is not included in the calculation.
Time and cost: 2 days, SLL 5,000 (SLL 5,000 + 30% capital gains tax (not included in the calculation))
Registration of the transfer of instrument by the Registrar General
Agency: Land Registry, Office of the Administrator and Registrar General
The transfer of title is registered by the Registrar General. Companies are registered at the Stamp duty, registration fee, Property fee and local taxes (estimates based on acreage) are paid at this time. The registration fee is a fixed fee.
Time and cost: 7 days, SLL 248,253.19 (0.1% for the stamp duty + SLL 50,000 for the fast track procedure)
