Renting a house in Lagos is not for the weak. Between unpredictable rent prices, pressure from agents, and landlords who can sell sand as sugar, tenants are constantly dodging stress like traffic on Third Mainland Bridge.
With the continuous rise in urban migration and cost of living in 2025, landlords know tenants are desperate, and some use it to push half-truths, hidden conditions, and outright lies.
Before you sign that tenancy agreement with excitement and a small fear in your chest, here are the top 3 lies Lagos landlords tell tenants, plus what they really mean (because we’re decoding everything today).
1. “Light and water are very stable here.”
If every landlord’s claim about stable electricity were true, Lagos would be running like Dubai. But the reality? You move in and suddenly discover:
- Water flows only twice a week
- Borehole pump mysteriously spoils after payment
- PHCN brings light like a guest appearance
- You’re buying fuel more than groceries
Before you believe sweet words:
- Visit the house at different times of day
- Ask current tenants (they don’t lie)
- Check how often the generator runs
- Inspect the water source yourself
Stable water and power aren’t a luxury, they’re survival requirements. Confirm them as your life depends on it, because honestly, it does.
2. “We’ll renovate everything before you move in.”
This one deserves a round of applause, because Lagos landlords say it with confidence and a straight face. They promise:
- Fresh paint
- New wiring
- Fixed plumbing
- Replaced tiles
Yet move-in day comes, and you’re still seeing the same cracked sink from inspection.
If you hear lines like:
“Painter is coming tomorrow.”
“We will finish the repairs next week.”
“Trust us, everything will be ready before you arrive.”
Please lock your bag and think well.
To protect yourself:
- Get renovation plans documented in writing
- Inspect again before paying the final balance
- Never rely on verbal promises, they evaporate fast
A written agreement is your only real receipt in Lagos real estate.
3. “You can park two cars comfortably, no wahala.”
Parking space in Lagos is like gold, everyone wants it, but few properties truly have it. Landlords love to oversell it, but in real life:
- One car fits, the second one blocks everybody’s exit
- Neighbors already own the good space
- Visitors are forced to park on the road
- The rainy season turns the space into a mud Olympics
Before you fall for this parking fairy tale:
- Drive your car into the compound and test it
- Check how many cars tenants already own
- Look for turning space, not just empty floor
- Inspect early morning + evening, scenarios change
Better to know now than to fight every Saturday morning over a parking space.
Final Thoughts
Lagos is vibrant, chaotic, exciting, and renting without caution can humble anybody. But by spotting these common landlord lies early, you save yourself money, frustration, and unnecessary neighbor quarrels.
Ask questions. Verify claims. Inspect thoroughly.
Because in Lagos real estate, what you see is not always what you were told.
Photo By Onaopemipo Oladipupo