Almost every adult has a story to tell about looking for a place to stay especially if you aren't born with a silver spoon. In my area, the rent culture is almost like a marketplace and every one has a story to tell about their experience in some houses. When a house is empty, agents begin to spread the news and before you know it, many people will rush to check it. If the house is in a good location, the landlord or agent will quickly raise the price claiming demand is high and many people want it. This makes rent very unstable because it can change within days, a flat you heard was 500,000 thousand naira yesterday can become 600,000 thousand naira today because four people have already shown interest in it.
Let me not even talk about heavy charges, omooo here in Nigeria we don't pay taxes on housing but the charges we pay to agents or landlords is very outrageous.You don’t just pay rent and move in oo you must pay agency fee, agreement fee and caution fee, even NEPA bill will still be paid every month when you move in not to talk of repairs of the house if the house is damaged or not to your taste and by the time you add all these together you may end up paying almost double the actual rent. That is why many people will advise that you have house rent savings before you even start searching for accommodation because if you don't have a savings plan you can end up without a roof on your head.
When you are looking for a house to rent, the environment and location are major things to look out for, you must check if the area is prone to flood, their security measures, the kind of neighbours you have around and transport in and out of the place. In every rainy season in Nigeria, there are stories of people who lose property because their houses are flooded and many tenants have admitted that they never asked questions about flooding before paying for the house which is very wrong. You must also be curious about your neighbours so that you don't live in the same house with thieves and drug addicts for you and your family safety.
Water supply or source is very important too, a house with a borehole and fair electricity supply is already a blessing, without them you will spend so much extra money and it's extra stress too because imagine having a long day at work but when you get home to take a cold shower and have good rest, you just remember you don't have water at home and you have to walk kilometres to get some, that situation can be so exhausting and frustrating.
Also make sure your agent or landlord is a trust worthy person because I personally is still facing something like that in my school hostel, we always pay our house rents with our electricity bill so it's the agent that goes to pay NEPA bill for us every month but unfortunately most times NEPA people will come around and cut out our wire saying our agent hasn't paid to them for months, so he owes them and we suffer the consequences everytime and this happens often so we have to call him and fight with him before he pays and this thing can be so draining, that's why I said your agent or landlord should be trustworthy in case of any issues or problems that might come up, make sure they are people that will show up whenever you need them and will take necessary actions.
I personally believe that before paying for any house, you must visit more than once. Visit in the daytime, at night and even during rainfall if possible sincerely because that way, you will discover things agents will never tell you, some agents can be very smart. They will show you the fine part of the house but never show you the bad part. I once heard of a man who rented a house and discovered later that the neighborhood had a noisy nightclub that never allowed him to sleep, sadly the agent never mentioned it. Also speak directly to at least two neighbors because neighbors always know the truth. They will tell you if the landlord is troublesome, if there is water problem or if the house gets flooded. Sometimes it is just a short conversation that saves you from a lifetime of regret.
At the end of the day renting a house in Nigeria is not just about the building itself. It is about the environment, the landlord, the neighbors and even the little details that people often overlook. A beautiful house can become a nightmare if the landlord is troublesome or the area is insecure also a simple house can feel like paradise if the environment is peaceful and the landlord is understanding.
Thank you so much for staying this far, hope you had a good read with me, see you again next time 🤗