Renting in Lagos: the first records to create

The National Bureau of Statistics reported that 68.3% of Lagos households rented their dwelling in its 2018–19 Living Standards Survey. That is historical context, not a 2026 market estimate, but it shows why a clear rental paper trail matters in a city where owners, agents, managers, tenants and payment accounts may all be different people.

Confirm the home and the people before paying

Write down the full property address and an exact unit description. Ask who owns or manages the property, who is authorised to receive money, and who will handle repairs and notices. Where an agent or manager is involved, keep the written explanation of their role and the account they instruct you to pay.

• Property address, unit or flat number and a contact who can arrange access.
• Names and roles of the owner, landlord, manager or agent involved.
• Written terms, tenancy period, rent amount and payment frequency.
• An itemised list of rent, service charge, caution fee, agency fee and any other requested amount.
• A clear answer about the account receiving each payment before money is sent.

Build a day-one rental folder

• The signed agreement and any later written change.
• Transfer evidence and the receipt for each payment.
• A dated move-in condition and inventory record.
• Key, access-card and meter-reading handover notes.
• The agreed contacts for rent, maintenance and urgent issues.

Use stable names for the files and the unit. “12-Adeola-St_Flat-3B” is easier to follow than “new apartment”. Let both landlord and tenant keep the documents they signed or received rather than leaving the only copy in an agent’s phone.

Check the rent receipt before filing it

Section 5 of the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 lists the date received, landlord and tenant names and addresses, the premises, the amount and the rent period among the receipt details. Operationally, a transaction reference, receipt number and separate fee lines make the record easier to trace.

Make the handover specific

• Count keys, access cards and remotes, and note who received them.
• Record electricity, water or other meter readings where relevant.
• Photograph material existing damage with the date and room identified.
• List unresolved repairs and the next action or responsible person.
• Keep access codes and identity documents out of public or unrelated chat groups.