Financing a home in Lomé and across Togo's regions
In Togo, home loans are granted mainly by Lomé banks to salaried customers whose pay is domiciled with them, over ten to twenty years depending on the case, with a down payment and a mortgage on land holding a title registered with the OTR.
Housing finance in Togo
The Togolese mortgage market remains narrow and concentrated in Lomé, where land pressure is spreading towards Agoè, Baguida, Adidogomé and Tsévié. Most households build in stages with their own savings, with bank credit coming in to finish a house or buy one.
Banks that finance housing in Togo
Orabank Togo, Ecobank Togo, UTB, Sunu Bank Togo, BIA-Togo and Coris Bank Togo offer home loans to their salaried customers. For an overview of the players, see the guide to credit in Togo, which covers banks, SFDs and the common rules.
Refinancing through CRRH-UEMOA
The WAEMU regional mortgage refinancing fund, licensed in Togo, lends banks long-term resources raised on the regional financial market. This mechanism allows some Togolese banks to offer longer terms than they could fund from demand deposits alone.
Rates and the usury ceiling in Togo
Since 1 June 2026, no Togolese bank may exceed an annual percentage rate of 14%, insurance and fees included. The rates actually charged depend on the employer, length of service, down payment and the mortgage security offered by the borrower.
The land title, a core requirement in Togo
The 2018 Land and State Property Code governs land registration in Togo. Without a land title, the bank cannot register a sound mortgage, which explains why many plots sold with a simple customary receipt cannot be used to secure a home loan.
The OTR one-stop land office
The Togolese Revenue Office handles land formalities and, since 2026, requires licensed surveyors to file plot plans online. A National Agency for State Property and Land, provided for by the 2018 Code, is still being set up.
Building, buying or finishing a house in Togo
Togolese banks distinguish between buying a finished house, building on titled land and completion loans. The latter, shorter, pays for roofing, joinery or tiling on a villa whose shell was self-financed over several years by the household.
Down payment and repayment capacity in Togo
The down payment often covers the land and fees, while the monthly instalment must remain compatible with the net salary paid into the bank. Civil servants paid by the Public Treasury and Lomé port authority staff are among the most closely followed profiles.
Insurance and collateral required in Togo
A first-ranking mortgage is backed by death and disability insurance taken out with an insurer licensed under the CIMA code, and sometimes by fire insurance on the property. The contract sets out how the mortgage is released once the loan is repaid.
The Togolese diaspora buying from abroad
Many Togolese living in France, Germany or the United States finance a home in Lomé. Some banks accept their foreign income but require on-site checks of the land title and building permits, often carried out by an appointed notary.
Comparing with WAEMU neighbours
Rate rules and the role of CRRH-UEMOA are identical in neighbouring Benin, where a mortgage in Benin also runs up against land security problems. Down payment and loan term practices, however, vary from one bank and one country to another.
Older borrowers and loan maturity in Togo
The maximum age at the end of the loan is set by each bank and its insurer. A civil servant close to retirement will get a shorter term, as explained on the page on the loan for retirees in Togo with CRT or CNSS pensions.
The path to a Togolese housing loan
- Check with the OTR that the plot has a land title in the seller's name and carries no existing mortgage.
- Obtain construction quotes or a preliminary sale agreement, then ask several Lomé banks for a loan simulation.
- Have your salary paid into the chosen bank and build up the down payment in an identifiable savings account.
- Submit the complete file and accept the creditworthiness review and the Creditinfo VoLo check.
- Sign the notarial deed, register the mortgage and take out the required death and disability insurance.
- Receive the funds in one payment or in instalments as the bank certifies the progress of the building work.
Cost items of a home loan in Togo
| Item | Benchmark | Factors that change it |
|---|---|---|
| Annual percentage rate | Capped at 14% a year for banks since June 2026 | Term, down payment, employer, collateral |
| Personal down payment | Variable, often the land or a share of the cost | Bank policy and type of project |
| Notary and registration fees | Proportional to the price, indicative | Property value and current scale |
| Land title and mortgage fees | Collected through the OTR, indicative | Plot size, land status, registration |
| Borrower insurance | Premium on outstanding principal | Age and declared state of health |
Standard file for a home loan in Togo
- National identity card and birth certificate
- Recent payslips and salary domiciliation certificate
- Land title or certificate of no mortgage issued through the OTR
- Plot plan drawn up by a licensed surveyor
- Building permit and detailed contractor quotes
- Preliminary sale agreement or promise of sale for a purchase
Mistakes that block a Togolese mortgage
- Buying a plot on the outskirts of Lomé with only a customary receipt, then finding that no bank will accept it as collateral.
- Starting construction before the bank approves the loan, which makes it hard to justify the expenses already incurred.
- Underestimating notary, registration and mortgage filing fees, which come on top of the required down payment.
- Handing money to an intermediary who promises a fast land title for cash, a common fraud scheme around Lomé.
- Declaring income that is not paid into an account, which the bank cannot verify and which leads to rejection by the credit committee.
Home loans in Togo: practical answers
Can you get a mortgage without a land title in Togo?
Rarely. Without a land title, the mortgage cannot be registered and the bank lacks solid security. Some banks fund completion work against other guarantees, such as salary domiciliation or pledged savings, but only for smaller amounts and shorter terms.
What is the longest term for a home loan in Lomé?
The term depends on the bank, your age and the resources available. CRRH-UEMOA refinancing helps some banks offer long loans, but each institution sets its own maximum term based on risk and the borrower's retirement date.
Who issues land titles in Togo?
Land formalities go through the Togolese Revenue Office and its one-stop land office, with a licensed surveyor and often a notary. The 2018 Land and State Property Code provides for a National Agency for State Property and Land, which is being created.
Can a member of the Togolese diaspora borrow in Lomé?
Yes, some Togolese banks consider income earned abroad, provided translated supporting documents are supplied and a local account is opened. Checks on the land title and the building site are made locally, often by a representative or a notary.