The rent in an advert is rarely the whole amount you need on move-in day. Lagos renters may also face a security deposit, agency and agreement fees, service charge, utility setup and transport. Before you pay anything, ask for one written schedule that names every charge and who receives it.
Separate one-time and recurring costs
Make two columns. In the first, put advance rent, refundable deposit, agency fee, agreement or legal fee, moving truck, locks, cleaning and immediate repairs. In the second, put future rent, estate service charge, electricity, water, waste collection, internet, parking and commuting. A lower rent with unusually high service charges may cost more over a year.
For each line, ask whether it is fixed or estimated, when it is due, whether tax is included, and what receipt you will get. If an agent cannot state the total before requesting a transfer, do not rely on a verbal assurance that the “balance is small.”
Confirm who can collect the money
Ask for the landlord's or authorised property manager's identity and instructions. Check the business name through the CAC public search if a company is involved; that still does not prove authority over the apartment. Confirm payment details directly with the principal through an independent contact. Pay by a traceable method to the agreed recipient and keep receipts.
A refundable deposit should have written terms: what it covers, how the property's condition is recorded, how deductions are calculated and when the balance is returned. Photograph the unit on move-in, including meters, water leaks, walls and appliances, and share the dated inventory with the landlord.
Read the tenancy terms before paying
Check the property address, exact unit, tenancy start and end, rent period, renewal process, repair duties, service-charge method, access rules and notice provisions. Lagos publishes its tenancy-law resource; the applicability of particular rules depends on the property and facts. Do not treat a chat summary as the contract.
Stress-test the budget
Calculate the total cash needed today and the monthly equivalent of annual costs. Leave room for rent increases, transport and emergencies. If paying the amount would empty your reserve, consider a different location or smaller unit rather than borrowing against the first month's living costs.
Browse local agents to compare options, but verify the unit and the complete written cost schedule before transferring money.
Sources
Official pages this guide relies on. Rules and fees change, so check the current version before you act.
- CAC public search (icrp.cac.gov.ng)
- Tenancy-law resource (lagosstate.gov.ng)
Related reading: Understanding the tenancy agreement · Rental scam red flags.