Résidence Théa in Dakar: what to check before you rent

Résidence Théa is an 18-unit development ranging from studios to a penthouse, located in Virage, in Dakar's Almadies area, and built by Ilios Groupe. According to the developer's project page, construction started in February 2022 and was completed in July 2023. The residence now operates mainly as a serviced short-term rental, with a reception, a seafront pool, a gym and 24/7 security. For a tenant or an investor, the real question is not whether the residence looks good, but who the landlord is, whether the contract is a short-term let or a residential lease, what the actual amounts are, and how Senegalese law applies.

What Résidence Théa is, according to the developer's page

Reliable information on this kind of residence comes first from the developer. Ilios Groupe's project page lists identifiable facts:

• Location: Virage district, address Rue YF 57, Dakar.
• Units: 18 apartments, from studio to penthouse.
• Timeline: construction started February 2022, ended July 2023, with a stated build time of 17 months.
• Amenities: reception, lift, gym, pool with lounge and bar, 180-degree sea view, 24/7 guard and cameras.

These are the developer's own figures, not a third party's. They are not a title deed, not proof of compliance, and not an opinion on build quality. The group also markets the residence as both a rental and a capital product, with concierge and rental management run by a group company.

Renting at Résidence Théa: residential lease or short-term let?

The distinction drives your rights. Résidence Théa is marketed mainly as serviced furnished stays, bookable through the group's rental platform, with concierge, cleaning and services. That is not the same regime as a long-term residential lease under Senegalese law. In practice:

• In Senegal, a short-term furnished stay is usually governed by a hosting contract or an online booking; classic lease rules (notice periods, capped deposits, renewal) do not apply in the same way.
• In Senegal, a residential lease for a main home in Dakar falls under ordinary lease law and, since 2023, under the rent framework run by CONAREL (see below).

The question to put in writing to the landlord or manager: is this a residential lease or a short-term furnished let? The answer must appear in the contract you sign. If the classification is unclear, have the contract reviewed by a Senegalese notary or lawyer before signing.

Senegal's rent framework, what the 2023 decree says

Senegal introduced a framework for residential rents that took effect on 1 March 2023, backed by Decree No. 2023-446 of 1 March 2023, which created the National Commission for the Regulation of Residential Rents (CONAREL). Reference economic press documented the reduction tiers applied to ongoing leases:

• 15% for rents below 300,000 FCFA per month;
• 10% for rents between 300,001 and 500,000 FCFA;
• 5% for rents above 500,000 FCFA.

These tiers are those reported by Le Monde in its article of 4 April 2023 (see Sources) and by Decree No. 2023-446 of 1 March 2023 cited above. Le Monde, in an article dated 4 April 2023, confirms a 15% cut on monthly rents under 300,000 FCFA imposed by the decree that took effect on 1 March 2023. These tiers cover ongoing residential leases in Senegal. They do not automatically apply to a furnished short-term tourist contract, which is exactly why the nature of the contract matters for a long-term tenant at a residence like Théa.

The actual rent of a specific Théa apartment is not published in a verifiable public source. Ask for a written quote showing rent, charges, deposit and duration, and compare before signing.

What to check before signing

Whichever regime applies, four checks are essential before any money changes hands:

1. Landlord identity: the name of the owner or agent, plus a written mandate if a manager signs.
2. Property title: for a residential lease, request the title deed or a manager's attestation; Senegalese land tenure is governed by Law No. 2011-07 of 30 March 2011 on the land property regime.
3. Written contract: rent, charges, deposit, duration, notice period, inventory.
4. Payment: a bank account in the landlord's name, numbered receipts.

For a purchase in a new development, further checks apply: programme compliance, land status and co-ownership rules. That is beyond this article and needs dedicated advice.

On Imonga

Imonga does not publish the list of Résidence Théa units. The platform does let you search comparable apartments and villas in Dakar, read price benchmarks on other markets, and prepare a rental using guides on the lease, deposit and notice period, on viewing a property and on real estate scams in West Africa. To compare furnished and unfurnished options, read furnished versus unfurnished.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Résidence Théa?

In Virage, in Dakar's Almadies area, at the address Rue YF 57 listed by developer Ilios Groupe. The neighbourhood faces the corniche and the ocean. The precise location of a specific apartment should still be confirmed by the landlord before booking.

Does Résidence Théa rent yearly or nightly?

The developer markets it mainly as a serviced short-term furnished rental, with concierge and services. A landlord may still offer a classic residential lease for a given apartment. The exact nature of the contract must be stated in the signed document.

Is the rent capped by the 2023 decree?

The reduction tiers (15%, 10%, 5% depending on rent level), as reported by Le Monde in its article of 4 April 2023 (see Sources), apply to residential leases covered by Decree No. 2023-446 of 1 March 2023. A short-term furnished contract does not fall under that framework in the same way. Check the type of contract before signing, and have a Senegalese notary or lawyer confirm the classification.

What documents should I ask for before paying a deposit?

Landlord identity and contact details (or the manager's mandate), a written contract, the rent and charges, the deposit amount and conditions, and a signed receipt. For a residential lease, ask for the property title reference.

Can I buy an apartment at Résidence Théa?

The developer presents the residence as both a rental and a capital product. Buying in a new development requires heavy checks (title, co-ownership, compliance). Do not commit without Senegalese legal advice, for example from a notary or a lawyer. Rules also differ in the other countries Imonga covers.

Sources

• Ilios Groupe, Résidence Théa page: Virage location, Rue YF 57 address, 18 studio-to-penthouse units, build February 2022 to July 2023, amenities (consulted 5 November 2026).
• Ilios Groupe, FAQ: short-term rental model via iliosrental.com, concierge services, rental management (consulted 5 November 2026).
• Juridoc, Decree No. 2023-446 of 1 March 2023: creation and operation of CONAREL (consulted 5 November 2026).
• Le Monde, 4 April 2023, "Au Sénégal, la difficile régulation des loyers": entry into force of the 1 March 2023 decree and a 15% cut on monthly rents under 300,000 FCFA (consulted 5 November 2026).
• Senenews, 2 March 2023: the cut took effect on 1 March 2023 and possible sanctions for non-compliance (consulted 5 November 2026).
• Senegal7, 22 May 2020: Law No. 2011-07 of 30 March 2011 on the land property regime (consulted 5 November 2026).