The year 2009 was when I officially started looking for an apartment in Lagos after my six months training with the organization that I got a job with.
I was posted to Apapa port and I go to work from mende Maryland where I was squatting with my uncle. I worked for six good months and have saved some money so the desire to be independent came in as I started looking for an apartment to rent.
One of the big problems with finding an apartment to rent in Lagos is that a huge number of them are readily available through an agent. So when I contacted one that was living around Maryland where I stay, he asked me a few questions which guided me well.
Below were some of the questions and it can be of help to anyone aspiring to rent a house in Lagos:
- What is your budget?
- Which location do you wish to live?
- What type of apartment?
- Upstairs or anyone?
Interest and Desire
These above questions can be of great guide to whoever that is finding an apartment for rent as it was to me. I responded to question 1-4 and my answers were not satisfactory because my budget didn’t fit into the type of apartment I wanted, the location and the type. So I had to delay for additional three months to save more and then embark on the search again. Pay good attention as you read my story.
Agent and Agency Commitment and Agreement
Fast-forward after 3 additional months, I was ready. I called the agent paid a registration fee of N3000 to his Agency and we started the house hunting. I chose palmgroove as my destination due to work proximity but I landed myself in Shomolu Onipanu where I got a room and parlor self-contained apartment for N300,000 a year. This was in 2009. Before we commenced, we agreed that an additional fee for Agency and Agreement plus caution fee to the tune of N150,000 will be paid together with the rent fee. So a total of N450,000 is the total rent fee.
House Search
The agent took me to series of houses which I declined. Some had higher fee while some were not really good, but we kept on searching. Due to my work schedule, we normally do the search during weekends until I saw the one I really liked and could afford. We collected the key from the care taker and we went inside to have view of the interior and check out what is working and what not. Like water window fittings etc. At the end, I chose the house, made a deposit of N50,000 to show commitment and to pay the rest by Monday. This was done to secure the house because other people were showing interest for the same apartment and were ready to make full payment.
Security and Environmental Checks
After the commitment, we all left the place but I diverted and later came back around the house to make inquiries and ask questions. I contacted a woman in her shop, introduced myself as a new tenant about to make payment but needed to hear from people around before I finally make payment.
Below were few questions I asked:
- Is there a good security architecture around?
- Is the area flooded during rain?
- About The landlord
- If the compound is a good place
Payment
She gave me encouraging answers and advised me if I like the place, I should go ahead and make payments which I did first thing on Monday morning the following week. I collected my receipt and the keys were handed over to me to take possession of the house.
How long will it take to find an apartment in Lagos
Before you get started, just know that it wont be easy. My apartment search, for instance, took me almost four weeks. Four weeks during which I searched with my agent for places to rent during weekends and went to view almost 15 apartments before I found one. Some of them were not places I would consider living in, or it did not fit the specifications I needed, or were in environments I did not like.
Others I loved but, with plenty other people also viewing them, it was not much of a surprise when the landlord decided to rent them to somebody else. This can sometimes be a problem as some landlords simply prefer to rent to someone from his tribe although, of course, they will not tell you that.
If you have followed my personal story well, it must have given you insights of what to do and look out for while searching to rent for an apartment in Lagos. I hope you this article served its purpose to you.
Thanks .
