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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Feb 2006 : 20:16:53
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Thanks for that..... I will be interested to see how you get on. How many weeks a year do you live there? Do you rent the rest of the time?
Do you get the opportunity to mix with the local community, or is it fairly insular?
How do you think the hotel complez will affect things? |
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kevinotton
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2006 : 15:24:03
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We go to Gambia for the school holidays, so its Xmas, April, August, and October. The house has not been finnished to a usable standard. I stayed there in April as I went on my own and 'roughed it'.
April will be the first time the family have stayed. We are being threatened with legal action as I withheld a payment in the hope of getting things fixed. Seems they just want the money now regardless of the faults and threaten everyone with legal action or cut utilities.
I will sell it once it is complete. The hassle of owning it when at home in the UK is not worth it and TAF Holding have little respect for foreign people. The bills are also on the up, what with gardener costs, security costs etc etc. Plus loads of breakins happening now people are moving stuff in and leaving them empty when they return.
we will look at buying another plot somewhere instead.
We go out and mix with the locals, help support children and sponsor a school. It would drive you mad just staying on th estate, some residents have not left the estate for nearly a year!!!!
The hotel will attract more trouble I think. People will come for miles to loot the place, it will be like a gold mine for rich pickings.
Lots more beggars and people constantly knocking for work when I stayed there. With 600 workers the security have no idea who's working and who's browsing....
I still love it there. |
Edited by - kevinotton on 09 Mar 2006 15:27:48 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 09 Mar 2006 : 16:45:19
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I love it how you list all the problems and then right at the end still say you LOVE IT!
I love Gambia and most Gambian people I have met.....
I am very glad I didnt invest..as a single women what respect would I have had?! As its turned out I need my money at home...so its for the best.
Just an idea....but what about getting a Gambian to represent you to taf????? They might cut through the c--p and get something done for you........ Although you would pay them something it would be money well spent if it got stuff sorted.
When I was thinking of buying a Gambian did the negotiations for me and got me a very good deal........ several thousands off and lots of extras.......
Can you imagine not leaving the estate??!!! How insular and boring! |
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Sparkle
2 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 16:56:34
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quote:
Originally posted by dave
I would imagine the profit was split in the usual clandestine way Gambiabev.......havent you figured out how "business" is done in Gambia yet???. I would agree with you regarding the political instability though. I would definitely rent for the first 12 months and see what happens. Stg2,500 will get you a nice place around Kololi/Kotu.
Gambiabevquote:
Originally posted by gambiabev
I am glad I backed out then. I wouldnt want to make a profit at the expense of local people being robbed.
What attracted me to the TAF development was that it is Gambian owned.
Did the arkalo of Brufut agree to the land being given away? Did anyone profit out of it?
Dave
Could you explain better. Do you mean 2,500 dalasi a month for a decent accom in Kotu/Kololi. The reason i am asking is because i am thinking of renting a 2 bed apartment in a nice residential area. (I live in London at the moment).
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thanks
Sparkle |
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dave
Ireland
89 Posts |
Posted - 14 Mar 2006 : 17:23:43
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Stg 2,500 per annum Sparkle.....In general you wont be able to rent a property for less than a year. You could of course try to do a deal with an expat that has appartments available. They are generally let out by the week to tourists that come 1/2 times a year but I would imagine a long term deal would be attractive to some. In this case be prepared to pay around Stg£60 per week although I personally know of better deals having been done. Although this would nominally seem more expensive than renting your own place, it would probably be a better option as you would not have to worry about security etc. If you want a referral let me know
quote:
Dave
Could you explain better. Do you mean 2,500 dalasi a month for a decent accom in Kotu/Kololi. The reason i am asking is because i am thinking of renting a 2 bed apartment in a nice residential area. (I live in London at the moment).
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thanks
Sparkle
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brusubi
Netherlands
43 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2006 : 00:04:51
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Rents usually start around 50 pounds per week. But then you have a small house in a noisy area or in an area with a lot of water and electricity cuts or just hard to reach by road. A lot of this houses can be found oposite Amsterdam Dolphins restaurant in Kotu where the girls and boys from Sierra Leone live.
For 275 pounds per month you can rent one of my houses, we garantee always water and electricity, the Brusubi cottage is on a paved road with streetlights, our houses have a lot of tropical fruits free to eat and we have 4 staff to clean and guard the house and to take care about our guests, pleasse look at my site http://www.gambiaholidayhome.centerall.com
if you want to see all the houses that are for rent on the internet then visit www.gambia.pagina.nl this site has the biggest collection of Gambia links that are interesting for tourists with virtually all houses, hotels, restaurants ,clubs, trips and other things of interest to a tourist, 905 is in English
regards
roger
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kevinotton
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2006 : 11:04:25
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| There is a new estate agent site http://www.okgambia.co.uk They have places for rent and sale. |
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Sparkle
2 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2006 : 17:52:57
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Thanks guys for providing links re. website for estate agents.
Brusubi - your houses are beautiful. Actually i am interested in renting on a longer term basis. Is it possible (or just for a short term).
Would this reflect in the price as i wouldn't be needing services of your staff for cleaning house.
Regards.
Sparkle |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2006 : 11:22:15
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hi there, if anyone is thinking of renting it is possible to rent for three, six months, but I would suggest staying in a hotel for the first three weeks. Be prepared to pay upfront, preferably in foreign currency !!!.
Definately take a gambian with you. I was ripped off by someone who sublet his place to me, i thought he was the owner. there is nothing you can do. I would use a gambian owned estate agent, because i felt there was someone if there was any fallout.
the two I went to were owned by other african nationals who I felt weren't honest.
Also look out for the "!inspection fee" that is anything from 200 to 600 dls to view a property, honest. this is from the property agents in the SEnegambia area.
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dave
Ireland
89 Posts |
Posted - 01 May 2006 : 23:32:07
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check this out......http://www.sundownersgambianvillas.co.uk/bookings.html. Its where I stay, I can recommend it
quote:
Originally posted by jambo
hi there, if anyone is thinking of renting it is possible to rent for three, six months, but I would suggest staying in a hotel for the first three weeks. Be prepared to pay upfront, preferably in foreign currency !!!.
Definately take a gambian with you. I was ripped off by someone who sublet his place to me, i thought he was the owner. there is nothing you can do. I would use a gambian owned estate agent, because i felt there was someone if there was any fallout.
the two I went to were owned by other african nationals who I felt weren't honest.
Also look out for the "!inspection fee" that is anything from 200 to 600 dls to view a property, honest. this is from the property agents in the SEnegambia area.
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 02 May 2006 : 08:42:44
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| I have just checked that out, they seem high prices. |
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dave
Ireland
89 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2006 : 13:07:38
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The prices you read Jambo are for short term lettings (1/2 weeks). I know the owner would do a deal for longer periods like a month/3 months etc. Right now they have 7 Egyptian guys (brought in to finish the conference centre in the new hotel) staying in two bungalows for the next 6 months - I believe they got a good deal
quote:
Originally posted by jambo
I have just checked that out, they seem high prices.
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toubab
Gambia
92 Posts |
Posted - 03 May 2006 : 19:20:40
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| The Egyptians guys at Sundowners are employed by Kharafi, and Kharafi pay a fixed price for a contact for the apartments for their workers,I have the same on my apartment for three months. Six Houses at Kotu are excellent and will give you a very good deal, includes 24hr security, all linen and towels, cleaning,gas and electricty. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2006 : 12:11:49
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hi there, is anyone still considering buying house/property. I am.
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twinkly
United Kingdom
190 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2006 : 12:26:03
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Jambo, sorry for this stupid question it might be too personal...
Don't you have a gambian husband?I thought I read that somewhere.Could he not help you?
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