Families deciding what to check before buying an apartment in Accra should focus on seven areas: school and work journeys at peak hours, usable room sizes, safety and accessibility, water and backup power, estate rules, the full cost of ownership, and independent legal and technical checks. The right apartment fits your normal week and stays affordable after you move in.
Before you reserve a unit:
- Get a floor plan with room dimensions.
- Get the service-charge schedule in writing.
- Drive the school and work routes at peak times.
- Instruct an independent lawyer before you pay any deposit.
Will the location work for your family’s normal week?
Judge a location by the trips you repeat: workplaces, school or creche, the clinic, the supermarket and grandparents.
Start each test at the building gate. Leave at your usual school-day hour, then repeat the trip in the afternoon, when pickup and the drive home overlap. Plan for days without the car or the driver.
A Saturday viewing shows you a quiet road. A weekday at 6:30 a.m. shows you the real commute.
Is there enough usable space beyond the bedroom count?
Bedroom count tells you little. Ask for a dimensioned floor plan and measure the rooms during the viewing.
| Space | What to check | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Bedrooms | Furniture fit and storage | Do beds, wardrobes and desks fit with room to walk? |
| Kitchen | Worktop space and ventilation | Do two people have room to cook at once? |
| Living area | Seating for everyone | Does the room work when the whole family is home? |
| Bathrooms | Number and access | Will school mornings create a queue? |
| Laundry and storage | Drying space, store room | Where do the washing machine and suitcases go? |
Plan five years ahead. A toddler grows into a schoolchild who needs a desk. An older parent needs a bedroom near a bathroom.
Which safety and accessibility features need a closer look?
24-hour security and child safety are separate questions. A guard at the gate does nothing about a low balcony rail or an unlocked pool gate.
Check balcony rails, window openings and bathroom floors. Outside, check the driveway, the pool gate, stairwell lighting and lift maintenance.
Walk from the parking bay to your door with a pushchair, or with your oldest relative’s needs in mind. Ask what happens when the lift stops during a power cut.
Ask whether the building holds a current fire certificate. The Ghana National Fire Service ties certificates to alarms, smoke detectors and extinguishers, and says insurers refuse cover for premises without one (GNA, 2023). Your walk-through does not replace a qualified building surveyor.
How do water, power, internet and waste services work?
Ask for operating details, not brochure promises.
| Service | Questions to ask | Evidence to request |
|---|---|---|
| Water | What supplies the building, and how large is storage? | Written description of supply, metering and tank cleaning |
| Backup power | Does the generator cover your unit or shared areas only? | Operating policy and fuel billing method |
| Internet | Which providers serve this exact address? | Confirmation from the provider |
| Lifts | Who maintains them, and how fast do they respond? | Maintenance contract |
| Waste | Where is waste stored, and how often is collection? | Management policy |
Do the amenities and estate rules suit your family?
A pool you never use still sits in your service charge. Ask whether each facility operates today, who supervises children, and whether access costs extra. Read the estate rules on quiet hours, visitors, pets and short-stay rentals. Speak to two or three residents.
Which legal documents should you verify before paying a deposit?
The Lands Commission urges buyers to search its records, verify the site plan and hold back full payment until ownership checks are complete. Raphael Hokey, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary (Operations) at the Lands Commission, summed up the advice: “Due diligence, due diligence, due diligence” (Graphic Online, October 2026). The Commission publishes its Lands Commission search and registration fees online.
Ask an independent Ghanaian property lawyer to confirm:
- The seller’s authority to sell and the remaining lease term
- Title, site plan and building permit
- Outstanding charges or disputes
- Reservation, refund and handover terms
Under the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036), a spouse selling jointly acquired property generally needs the other spouse’s written consent. The Act also limits any single leasehold grant to a non-Ghanaian to 50 years (Afriwise). Diaspora buyers with foreign citizenship should ask their lawyer how this rule applies. Read our guide to buying from abroad.
A lawyer confirms ownership. An inspector confirms condition. You need both. Our common property ownership questions and our deposit checklist for buying an apartment in Ghana cover the legal steps in order. This guide gives general information and does not replace legal advice or a technical inspection.
How does Eden Heights fit a family’s checklist?
Eden Heights is a gated residential development in Weija-Gbawe, western Accra, behind West Hills Mall. Read why the West Hills Mall location matters. The Eden Heights Three Bedroom Plus Study (181.03 sqm) gives a child a homework room or a parent a home office. The Eden Heights Four Bedroom Apartment covers 191.46 sqm.
The developer lists a swimming pool, gym, football pitch, tennis court and basketball court [confirm basketball court with client], with 24-hour security and Eden Heights on-site facility management. See the pool, gym and sports complex. Hazelway International School, Kent International School and Rising Sun Montessori sit in the surrounding area [confirm school names and distances with client].
Use these facts as a starting point. Drive your school run from the Eden Heights gate before you decide.
What to check before buying an apartment in Accra: family viewing checklist
Mark each item Must-have, Important or Optional. No amenity cancels out an unresolved legal, safety or budget problem.
- Location: school run tested at peak time / work routes tested
- Layout: rooms measured / storage and laundry space / study space
- Safety: balcony rails / pool gate and rules / fire certificate
- Access: parking-to-door route tested / lift backup power
- Services: water supply explained in writing / internet confirmed
- Management: estate rules read / service-charge schedule received
- Budget: three-stage budget complete / reserve set aside
- Documents: lawyer instructed / Lands Commission search done / inspection booked
Frequently asked questions
Which areas cover what to check before buying an apartment in Accra?
Check seven areas: daily journeys, usable space, safety and accessibility, water and power, estate rules and amenities, full ownership costs, and legal documents. Test the school run at peak hours, measure rooms, read the service-charge schedule, and instruct an independent lawyer and inspector before paying.
How many bedrooms does a family need?
No single number fits every family. Count who sleeps where, who needs privacy, and who studies or works at home. Then compare floor area, storage and bathroom access. A three-bedroom unit with a study suits some families better than a smaller four-bedroom unit.
Are gated apartments automatically suitable for children?
No. A gate and guards control who enters. They do not make balconies, driveways, pools or stairwells safe for children. Check balcony rails, pool access controls, drop-off areas and supervision rules separately, and ask a qualified inspector to assess technical safety.
What should parents check about balconies and shared pools?
On balconies, check rail height, gaps, climbable furniture and window openings. At the pool, check for a lockable gate, posted rules, opening hours and supervision arrangements. Ask management for the written pool rules before you reserve a unit.
How should buyers assess school and work commutes?
Drive each route from the building gate at the times your family leaves, morning and afternoon. Combine school pickup with the drive home from work. Repeat the test on two weekdays and try a backup option, such as ride-hailing, for days without the car.
What should apartment service charges include?
Ask for the written schedule. Confirm whether the charge covers security, cleaning of shared areas, generator fuel, lift and pool maintenance, waste collection and facility management. Ask which items cost extra and how often management reviews the charge.
Is buying before relocating possible for diaspora families?
Yes. Appoint an independent Ghanaian lawyer, book a professional inspection, and use a registered power of attorney if you will not sign in person. Ask a relative or an agent licensed by the Real Estate Agency Council to attend viewings for you.
What documents should buyers review before paying a deposit?
Review the title or lease, site plan, building permit, Lands Commission search result, reservation agreement with refund terms, draft sale and purchase agreement, and service-charge schedule. Your independent lawyer should review each one before you pay.
Your next step
A family apartment should work for your daily routines, your changing needs and your long-term budget. Use this list at every viewing. Request the floor plan and service-charge schedule, and arrange independent legal and property checks before paying a reservation fee. To see current family-sized apartments at Eden Heights, contact the Eden Heights sales team and book a viewing.
