10 Questions You Must Ask Before Renting an Apartment in Nigeria

 

10 Questions You Must Ask Before Renting an Apartment in Nigeria

By: Pelumi Adelowokan | Reading time: 4 mins

 An apartment can look perfect from the outside and be a nightmare to live in. In Nigeria's rental market, what you don't ask before signing is often what comes back to haunt you after you've moved in. Here are the 10 questions every renter must ask before any money changes hands.

1. What is the Total Move-In Cost?

Ask for a full breakdown: rent, agency fee, agreement fee, caution fee, and service charge. Get the total number. Don't let any cost surprise you on the day you're supposed to move in.

2. How is Water Supplied?

Government water supply in most Nigerian cities is unreliable. Ask if there is a borehole, overhead tank, or well. Who manages it? Is it included in the service charge or will you pay separately?

3. What is the Power Supply Situation?

Ask about the electricity situation honestly. Is there a generator? What hours does it run? Who pays for diesel — the landlord or tenants? What is the typical NEPA (PHCN) situation in the area? Electricity costs in some estates can rival the rent itself.

4. Who Handles Repairs?

Is the landlord responsible for fixing plumbing issues, roof leaks, or faulty electrical wiring? Or will that fall to you? Get this in writing in your tenancy agreement.

5. Are There Any Restrictions?

Some landlords in Nigeria have strict rules: no cooking of certain foods (particularly fish or "smelling" meals), no musical instruments, no visitors after a certain hour, no pets, no running a business from the apartment. Know these rules before you move in and not after.

6. What is the Notice Period for Quit?

Nigerian law generally requires a landlord to give adequate notice before asking a tenant to leave, but the exact terms depend on your agreement.

 

Confirm: How much notice must the landlord give you? How much notice do you need to give if you want to leave early?

7. Is There Any Outstanding Dispute on the Property?

Some tenants have moved into apartments only to discover the property is under a legal dispute. Ask the landlord directly and try to speak with current or former tenants in the compound.

9. What Happens to My Caution Fee When I Leave?

This is one of the biggest sources of conflict between Nigerian tenants and landlords. Confirm in writing: under what conditions will your caution fee be fully refunded? What deductions can be made?

10. Can I Speak With a Current Tenant?

A landlord who has nothing to hide will have no problem connecting you with a current tenant. Speaking to someone who already lives there is the fastest way to know the reality of the compound power supply, water, landlord behaviour, and neighbourhood security.

Before you start touring apartments, make sure you're finding legitimate listings from verified sources. Platforms like ExpertListing let you search available rentals near you with transparent property details, so you walk into every tour already informed.

 Key tips:

1. Write your questions down before every apartment tour

2. Record or take notes during your tour you will view multiple apartments and the details blur together

3. Trust your instincts: if a landlord is evasive or irritated by your questions, walk away

A landlord who won't answer your questions before you move in definitely won't answer them after.

 

About the Author: Pelumi Adelowokanis a property consultant and housing writer based in Nigeria