The rent is not the problem. The advance is — and then the fees on top of it.
Lagos rent advance calculator
Work out the lump sum a Lagos landlord wants before you move in, with the agency, legal and caution fees, how much of it the Tenancy Law forbids, and what to save each month.
What the law allows
Section 4 of the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 makes it an offence for a landlord, or an agent, to demand or receive more than this from a new tenant:
| Tenancy | Most that can be asked in advance |
|---|---|
| Monthly | 6 months |
| Yearly | 12 months |
It is an offence for the tenant to offer more, too.
What is actually asked is 24 months. On a mid-range one-bedroom at ₦1,800,000 a year, that is ₦3,600,000 against a lawful ₦1,800,000.
Warning
The Law does not reach Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi or Victoria Island, which section 1(3) excludes. Those are the areas with the highest rents, and a landlord there may ask for any advance at all. The calculator has a switch for them.
The fees on top
Each is a share of a year’s rent, charged on top of the advance and paid at the same time:
| Charge | Share of a year’s rent |
|---|---|
| Agency fee | 10% |
| “Legal” or agreement fee | 10% |
| Caution deposit, refundable in principle | 10% |
That is 30% of a year’s rent, and none of it is set by law. On the same one-bedroom it adds ₦540,000, for a total of ₦4,140,000 before you get the keys — about 34.5 times the median monthly salary in Nigeria.
What knowing the number buys you
You will probably pay. Housing is scarce, landlords set the terms, and the alternative is usually no house. The number is still worth having:
- One year instead of two is the lawful position for a yearly tenancy, and some landlords take it — especially for a flat that has stood empty.
- Ask who drafted the agreement the legal fee pays for. Often nobody did.
- Pay the landlord, not an agent’s personal account, and get a receipt naming the period the rent covers. The receipt is also what claims your rent relief at tax time.
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The rent advance, explained How to find a place in Lagos Tenancy agreements