How to Rent Your First Apartment in Nigeria: A Step-by-Step Guide
By: Pelumi Adelowokan | Reading time: 5 mins
Renting your first apartment in Nigeria is one of the most exciting, and most overwhelming things you will ever do. Between chasing agents, calculating agency fees, and decoding landlord language, it can feel like you need a lawyer, a calculator, and a personal bodyguard just to get a roof over your head.
The good news? With the right steps, you can find a decent apartment without losing your mind or your savings.
Step 1: Set a Realistic Budget
Before you start scrolling listings or driving around neighbourhoods, you need to know your number. A commonly used rule is that your annual rent should not exceed one-third of your yearly income.
In cities like Lagos and Abuja, a standard mini flat can run anywhere from 400,000 Naira to 1.5 million Naira per year depending on the location. Factor in these extra costs that most first-timers forget:
1. Agency fee: Usually 10% of annual rent, paid to the agent
2. Agreement fee: Typically 10% of annual rent, for documentation
3. Caution fee / Security deposit: Usually one month's rent or more
4. Service charge: Common in estates, covering security, generator, and cleaning
So if an apartment costs 600,000 Naira per year, your move-in costs could easily hit 900,000 Naira or more. Plan for this.
Step 2: Choose the Right Neighbourhood
Location in Nigeria is everything. A flat in Lekki Phase 1 and a flat in Ogba may cost very differently, but your daily commute, security situation, and lifestyle will be completely different too.
Ask yourself: How close is this to my office or business? Is the road motorable during rainy season? Is there a functioning water supply? Does the estate have steady light or a generator?
Step 3: Find Listings Through Reliable Sources
This is where most first-timers make expensive mistakes, trusting random agents with no track record or falling for listings that don't exist. Always use verified platforms to search.
Websites or platforms like ExpertListing allow you to find verified rental listings across Nigerian cities so you can compare options, check prices, and avoid being scammed by ghost properties.
Step 4: Tour or Inspect the Property in Person
Never pay for a property you have not physically inspected. When you visit, check: running water, working toilets, roof condition, window and door quality, and whether the electricity connection is legal (not tapping from a neighbour's line, which is more common than you'd think).
Step 5: Read and Sign the Agreement Carefully
Before you hand over any money, ensure you have a written tenancy agreement. Review it carefully or better yet, have a legal-minded friend look at it. Confirm the rent amount, duration, renewal terms, and what happens if either party wants to end the tenancy early.
Key tips:
1. Never pay cash without getting a receipt
2. Confirm the agent or landlord's identity before parting with money
3. Take photos of the apartment's condition before moving in this protects your caution fee when you're leaving
Renting your first apartment is a big milestone. Don't rush it. Take your time, use trusted platforms, compare your options, and ask every question you need to ask. Your perfect first home in Nigeria is out there you just need the right tools to find it.
About the Author:
Pelumi Adelowokan is a real estate writer and tenant advocate based in Lagos, Nigeria, Nigeria.