Real estate in Lomé: renting, buying and securing your property in 2026

Renting or buying in Lomé means navigating two strict sets of rules. Decree No. 2022-001/PR of 5 January 2022 caps the security deposit and rent guarantee for residential leases in Greater Lomé at three months' rent each. The Land and Domain Code (Law No. 2018-005 of 14 June 2018) makes any transfer of real estate conditional on registration and a notarised deed, failing which the sale is void. On Imonga, as of 14 September 2026, according to available information, the 38 rental villas in Greater Lomé show a median monthly rent of 650,000 FCFA, the 19 apartments 250,000 FCFA, and the 16 plots for sale a median price of 50,000,000 FCFA. These figures describe a sample of listings, not the whole market.

What Imonga listings show in Greater Lomé

As of 14 September 2026, according to available information, Imonga carries 115 published listings in Greater Lomé (metropolitan area). Three limits should be stated before any figure. First, 114 of the 115 listings come from a single agency. Second, 67 were first posted in 2024, 16 in 2025 and 31 in 2026: prices or availability may have changed since. Finally, the P10-P90 range excludes the cheapest 10 % and the most expensive 10 % of listings; we do not calculate a median below five listings. The table below summarises the prices observed from these listings.

Property type	Listings	Median asking price	P10 to P90 range
Villa for rent	38	650,000 FCFA/month	350,000 to 1,765,000 FCFA
Apartment for rent	19	250,000 FCFA/month	126,000 to 770,000 FCFA
Land for sale	16	50,000,000 FCFA	25,000,000 to 175,000,000 FCFA
House for sale	8	150,000,000 FCFA	58,500,000 to 226,000,000 FCFA

According to available information, two pairs of listings appear to be duplicates (same text, same price). Keeping only one copy each shifts the villa median to 700,000 FCFA across 37 listings and the apartment median to 275,000 FCFA across 18. Villas range from 200,000 FCFA (a single-storey 3-bedroom villa in Avépozo) to 2,500,000 FCFA. See the breakdown on the Lomé property prices page and browse villas for rent in Lomé.

Where the supply is

We counted the neighbourhood given in each listing (location field or address). Tokoin and Baguida lead with 13 listings each, including 9 villas in Baguida. Next come Bè (8, including 3 warehouses in the port area), Agoè (8), Avépozo (7), Adidogomé (6), Nyékonakpoè (6), Togo 2000 (5), Hédzranawoé (5), Agbalépédo (4) and Djidjolé (4). Twenty-three other neighbourhoods have 1 to 3 listings, such as Kodjoviakopé, Adakpamé, Legbassito or Kpogan. Three listings give only "city centre". This ranking reflects the portfolio of the agency posting on Imonga, not the true size of each neighbourhood market.

Renting in Greater Lomé: the legal ceiling

Decree No. 2022-001/PR of 5 January 2022 applies in Greater Lomé. It requires a written lease and caps two distinct sums at three months' rent each: the security deposit (to cover damage, Article 4) and the rent guarantee (paid on signing to cover notice-period or arrears, Article 8). The total demanded before moving in therefore cannot exceed six months' rent. Beyond that, the decree provides penalties (Article 31), according to the Ministry of Urban Planning.

The rent itself remains freely negotiated, but its review is regulated: it may be revised only every three years and by no more than 10 % of the current rent (Article 10 of the decree), as noted by the legal guide LQDD. Fees for a real-estate professional who drafts the lease are split equally between landlord and tenant (Article 12), per the Ministry's note on lease financial terms. A model contract is available from the municipalities of Greater Lomé.

The landlord bears major repairs (main walls, roofs, septic tanks); the tenant bears routine maintenance and damage they cause. The decree bans certain clauses: exemption of the landlord's liability, prohibition on hosting guests, automatic tenant liability for any damage (Article 13), per the Ministry of Urban Planning. This decree covers only residential leases in Greater Lomé. Offices, shops and warehouses fall under a different regime; consult a notary or lawyer.

Buying: the land title is mandatory

In Togo the only incontestable proof of ownership is the land title. The Land and Domain Code (Law No. 2018-005 of 14 June 2018) makes any transfer of real estate conditional on registration of the property, failing which the contract is absolutely void. The sale must be executed by notarised deed. Until the transfer is recorded in the land register, the purchase is not enforceable against third parties, including a subsequent buyer. The Code gives precedence to the land title over other documents, even administrative certificates. For a foreigner, any deed transferring ownership to or from a Togolese citizen requires prior authorisation from the public authority, failing which it is void.

Sellers sometimes offer "stamps" or customary certificates. These do not replace the land title. Of the 16 plots for sale in Greater Lomé on Imonga as of 14 September 2026, 10 declare a land title, 1 a "land title in progress", 4 mention "stamps", and 1 states no document. A title "in progress" is not a title: until registration is complete, the sale remains exposed to voidness. Our guide to land status in Togo compares these documents.

Steps to secure a purchase

1. Obtain a copy of the land title and check that the seller's name matches the registered owner.
2. Request a descriptive statement from the land registry. It gives the registered owner, surface area and any mortgage. Have it reissued just before signing, as advised by notary Komi Tsakadi.
3. Have a licensed surveyor check the boundaries: the beacons on the ground must match the plan.
4. Sign the sale deed before a notary, who verifies the seller's rights and obtains the release of any mortgage.
5. Register the transfer with the OTR Directorate of Cadastre and Land Conservation. Since 1 March 2025, the application must be accompanied by a provision covering the procedure fees (OTR press release No. 003/2025).
6. If you are buying only part of the land, a subdivision is required: lot beacons, plan and notarised transfer request.

Fees published by the authorities

The total transfer of an already registered property costs a flat fee of 35,000 FCFA. This is stated by the Directorate of Cadastre and Land Conservation and by notary Komi Tsakadi. The seller must also pay tax on capital gains from the sale, calculated on the difference between the acquisition price and the sale price: 7 % if the property was acquired less than five years ago, with a reduction beyond that.

Notary fees are regulated by the Togo National Chamber of Notaries. Surveyor, plan and boundary costs are not published: ask for a written quote. Likewise, ask the notary for a written itemised estimate before signing.

Common traps to avoid

Double sale

The Land Code punishes stellionate (selling an already-sold property through false statements). The safeguard is to check the descriptive statement immediately before the deed, to pay only at the notary's office on signing day, and to register the transfer without delay. When two titles are issued for the same property, the court keeps the older one.

Land without a title

Reject any purchase based only on "stamps" or receipts. Demand the land title; if unavailable, demand a deed recognised by the Land Code and consult a notary.

Global land title

Some listings say "global land title". This means the plot is part of a larger title. You will not be registered as owner until a subdivision is completed, which adds time and cost.

Rental middlemen

Pay nothing before you have visited, checked that your contact is the owner or authorised agent, and received a written lease. Refuse any request above three months' security deposit and three months' rent guarantee. Demand a receipt for every payment.

On Imonga

All city listings are on the Lomé property page. Land for sale in Lomé and houses for sale in Lomé show the land document declared by the poster; it must still be verified. All 8 houses for sale declare a land title.

As of 14 September 2026, according to available information, Imonga lists 2 property developments in Togo. The Cité LTI in Agoè Legbassito offers duplex villas from 85,000,000 FCFA. The Assivito building, a five-storey block in Lomé, rents offices, shops and apartments at an indicative rate of 8,000 to 10,000 FCFA per m². The professional directory holds 21 professionals in Togo, 3 of whom have completed profile verification.

Frequently asked questions

How many months' deposit can be demanded in Lomé?

Three months' security deposit and three months' rent guarantee at most, totalling six months before moving in. This is the ceiling set by Decree No. 2022-001/PR for residential leases in Greater Lomé. Beyond that, the landlord faces penalties.

What is the median rent for a villa in Lomé?

According to available information, on Imonga, as of 14 September 2026, the 38 rental villas in Greater Lomé show a median monthly rent of 650,000 FCFA. Removing two duplicate listings raises the median to 700,000 FCFA across 37 villas. The P10-P90 range is 350,000 to 1,765,000 FCFA.

Can you buy land in Togo without a land title?

No. The Land and Domain Code makes any transfer of real estate conditional on registration, failing which the contract is absolutely void. A notarised deed is mandatory. "Stamps" or customary certificates are not enough. Always have the land title checked by a notary. For any specific situation, please consult a notary or a lawyer.

What does it cost to transfer a land title in Togo?

The flat fee for a total transfer of an already registered property is 35,000 FCFA, according to the Directorate of Cadastre and Land Conservation. Since 1 March 2025, the OTR requires a provision covering procedure fees. The seller must also pay capital-gains tax (7 % if held less than five years). Notary fees are regulated: ask for a written breakdown.

Does the lease decree apply across all of Togo?

No. For now it applies only in Greater Lomé. In other cities, common-law rules and the contract signed by the parties remain the baseline.

How do you check that a seller really owns the property?

Ask for a copy of the land title and request a descriptive statement from the land registry. This document states the registered owner, surface area and any mortgages. Have it reissued just before signing to catch any transfer made in the meantime. A licensed surveyor must check that the beacons on the ground match the plan.

Sources

• Ministry of Urban Planning, "Key messages on the decree" : sets the three-month cap on security deposit and rent guarantee, the split of professional fees, penalties and the application to Greater Lomé. Consulted 2026-10-02.
• FAOLEX, Land and Domain Code, Law No. 2018-005 of 14 June 2018 : sets the registration requirement, voidness of unregistered transfers, notarised deed, enforceability against third parties and primacy of the land title. Consulted 2026-10-02.
• Directorate of Cadastre and Land Conservation, "Cost of title transfer operations" : sets the flat 35,000 FCFA fee for total transfer. Consulted 2026-10-02.
• OTR, press release No. 003/2025 : sets the requirement for a provision covering procedure fees from 1 March 2025. Consulted 2026-10-02.
• Me Komi Tsakadi, notary, "Buying property with a land title: how it works" : sets out the descriptive statement, survey, subdivision, 35,000 FCFA transfer fee and 7 % capital-gains tax. Consulted 2026-10-02.
• LQDD, "Rent increases in Togo: tenants' rights" : sets the three-yearly review capped at 10 %, landlord liability for major repairs and two months' notice. Consulted 2026-10-02.
• Ministry of Urban Planning, "The benefits of regulating residential lease financial terms" : sets rent freedom, three-month caps and split professional fees. Consulted 2026-10-02.
• Ministry of Urban Planning, "Did you know? Decree No. 2022-001 of 5 January 2022" : sets prohibited clauses and the allocation of obligations between landlord and tenant. Consulted 2026-10-02.