5 Tips To Guide You When Renting An Apartment In Lagos
posted on Feb 11, 2022 | 946 likes
Ready to rent that apartment- Read this first!
People change houses for a variety of reasons. Whatever it is, house hunting in Nigeria can become a herculean task and sometimes time-wasting.
Not to mention the ever-ready house agents who always insist you pay a token that they tag registration fee before they take you for inspections.
As part of this inspection process, you also have to transport and feed them. Whew!!!
In Nigeria, especially Lagos, there’s a popular slang shine your eyes It means to be observant. If you have been in Lagos long enough, you would know that Lagosians don’t just say this for fun.
The reality is that if you by any chance fail to stay alert, you might just get cornered and have yourself to blame. The same is true for house hunting.
No matter how desperate you are, finding an apartment in Lagos requires a great deal of patience. Consider the fact that the Landlord or agent will not live in this house with you, so rushing into a decision in a hurry will only end in tears.
But it doesn’t have to be so. With proper guidance, you will be able to scale through the hurdles that every house hunting adventure presents, and just as they say in movies, live happily ever after.
We have handpicked these tips to guide you.
1. Consider the Location
Let’s not mince words here. When it comes to renting an apartment in Lagos, this is a crucial factor to consider.
The reason is simple. The location determines the cost of the rent. Houses on the island are undoubtedly much more expensive than those on the mainland.
In choosing your location, you should consider its proximity to your workplace, easy road access, security, electricity, and water supply.
Do not overlook these things if you want to have a great living experience.
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2. Decide on the type of house and draw up a budget.
Houses are always available in Lagos; you just need to know the type you want and where to look. Do you want a mini flat or duplex? Now is the time to answer that question.
When you're done, you should draw up a budget. Your budget should take into account both your preferences for houses and locations.
3. Contact an agent (or not)
Getting the services of an agent is optional. Some people prefer to go searching for houses themselves so that they can boycott the exorbitant agency fee.
If you prefer to work with an agent, again shine your eyes.
Make sure he/she has a physical office and can be trusted. While paying a registration fee is the norm, compare registration prices to ensure you are not overcharged.
One free tip: Never let an agent pressure you into renting an apartment. This is their specialty.
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4. Go for physical inspection (not at night please)
Since you are going to be the one living here, why let someone else inspect for you? Worse still, an agent?
Going for a physical inspection will save you from complaints after you’ve moved in.
Check for pipe leakages, burns, electrical and wiring issues, light entrance into the rooms, and water supply. Check the sizes of each room, the toilet, and the kitchen.
Check everything.
It is also advisable you do this inspection during the rainy season so that you can discover roof leakages and/or damp walls if there are any.
5. Ask to see the previous electricity bills
In Lagos, one out of every three persons has fallen victim to paying back electricity bills owed by the previous occupant. Trust Lagos Landlords to always dump that debt on you.
To prevent stories that touch, insist on seeing the previous and current electricity bills. If the Landlord hesitates, please run. Run fast and far.
Think about this.
Imagine after scaling through these hurdles and choosing that perfect apartment, one thing decides to hold you down- Money
This can be truly frustrating.
Renting houses is on a first come first serve basis, and Landlords are not so generous to give you some time to gather the rent- at least not Lagos Landlords. They give the apartment out to whoever is ready to pay immediately. No hard feelings.
All your efforts become wasted.
This doesn’t have to be the case always.
At Page Financials, we provide salary earners up to 5 million to sort out emergencies and pending projects for example house rent.
Our loans are hassle-free, and salary earners living in Lagos, Ibadan, and Abuja can easily access from 200k-5m from the comfort of their home or office.
All you need is:
· Statement of account for 6 months with a minimum salary of 200,000
· Staff Id
· Government means of identification (National Identity Card, Voters Card, Drivers’ License or International Passport)
· BVN
Then proceed to apply on our registration portal https://www.pagefinancials.com/registration/
Once you complete this process, a customer service representative would contact you for a follow-up and update on your request.
Closing words
Regardless of the stress that comes with house hunting, the truth is people will still move houses. But you can have a better experience with these tips.
The best part is, money wouldn’t even be an issue for you.
How cool is that?
For further inquiries, you can send an email to customer@pagefinancials.com or contact customer service on 017007243 for assistance.