If you think finding a LOML in Lagos is hard, try finding a decent apartment that doesn’t require you to sell a kidney or test your mental health. House hunting in Lagos is an extreme sport, and the landlords/agents are the referees who keep changing the rules. Here are things to know before you go house hunting in Lagos.
1. The Rent Is Never Just the Rent
In Lagos, the advertised rent is just a suggestion. By the time you add the agent fee, agreement fee, legal fees, and the infamous caution fee (for the “damage” they assume you’ll cause), the actual rent becomes double the advertised rent.
Always ask for the full breakdown of costs before you start celebrating that “affordable” apartment.
2. You Will Be in a Toxic Relationship with Your Agent
What do your situationship, your village people, and some Lagos real estate agents have in common? They all don’t wish you well. An agent will tell you he is “five minutes away” while he is actually still on a bus from Ikorodu. If your real estate agent is not showing you dilapidated buildings at ridiculous prices, they are constantly begging you for urgent 2k and doing everything else except getting you the house you want.
3. Aesthetics Is Not Everything
Tiles can look beautiful, and POP ceilings may distract you, but make sure you shine your eyes! Anytime you hear ‘Luxury’—jazz up. Sometimes it comes with a side of Lekki water—IYKYK. Before you pay, check the essentials: Does the “borehole” actually work? Is the road accessible in the rainy season, or will you need a canoe to get to work? Aesthetics won’t get you through the flood.
4. Research the Neighbourhood
It’s not enough to find a good apartment. You also need to do your research. Stable electricity? Flood? Accessibility? In fact, speak to current neighbours if you can. Is it a quiet residential area, or does it turn into a street carnival at night? And if you Oblee quite often, can you get to your bed in one piece after a long night out? You’re paying for a home, not a role in an action movie.
5. Know Who Actually Owns the House
Lagos landlords and Super Story? 5 and 6. One day, the house belongs to a late chief; the next day, his 15 children are fighting over the compound. Never, ever pay for a house without a lawyer reviewing the papers. If the agent says, “Don’t worry, the landlord is a man of God,” that is exactly when you should worry the most.
6. “Mini Flat” Can Mean Anything
The term “mini-flat” is very flexible in Lagos. In some places, it’s a beautiful one-bedroom apartment. In others, it’s self-contained, where the “kitchen” is a small corner and the “parlour” is a tiny box. If the agent says it’s “cozy,” just know that your fridge cannot be higher than your knee.
7. House Hunting in Lagos Is a Marathon
Finding the right apartment in Lagos rarely happens in one viewing. You’ll inspect multiple houses, deal with several agents, and hear more “luxury finishing” descriptions than you ever imagined. If you eventually secure a decent apartment in Lagos, congratulations—you’ve survived one of the city’s most stressful experiences.
If you’ve ever survived a Lagos house hunt, you’re basically a veteran of war. We see your struggle!
