House hunting in Lagos is never easy. It can be very difficult to find a suitable and comfortable place that marks all your boxes on your checklist. In fact, most people have had to rush into renting an apartment in Lagos just because they were tired of searching for the right one.
Due to the fact that we know how hard it can be, we at Propertydome have decided to make things easier by providing a few precautions that can help you make the right choice before renting an apartment in Lagos.
Budget: As they say, renting an apartment in Lagos is not “beans”. It is in fact strenuous when it comes to how much you would spend. You have to consider how much your budget is before you embark on the house hunting journey.
It is pertinent that you ensure that there are no hidden fees that need to be paid. Double-check the rental fees, the agency fees, legal fees and so on and make sure you have all. Most times you have to pay rent in advance, be sure you have that as well. Generally, stay within your budget you cannot have a budget of N200,000 and go to places like Lekki, VGC, Ikoyi to rent.
Location: After the budget, this is another determining factor. What location do you have in mind? What kind of people live there? Is it close to your place of work? If you have children, Would they be able to school there? Or is it close to the school they are already enrolled in. This is so that you arrive at the best of choice that will not adversely affects your lifestyle easier. Truth is that when you rent an apartment out of desperation, you risk being dissatisfied in the long run.
Security: I have seen cases of people renting an apartment in Lagos in a supposedly violent area and then start to sleep out because they are being careful. Some areas in Lagos have stories of cult clashes, robbery and so on. Apart from the neighbourhood, try to find out if the house is secure, the doors, windows and fence should be put into consideration.
Flood: The best time to figure out which house to rent is during the rainy season. This is because so many houses or areas are flood-prone. Rainy season in Nigeria, especially Lagos can be one of the ugly times of the year for residents. Floods are a major risk as lives and properties are lost most times, you have to make sure you research how the location you have chosen responds to flooding risk.
Checking out houses during the rainy season would help you see the effect of heavy rains and make a clear choice.
Amenities: The big 3 I like to call them; good water, light and roads are the basic amenities you need to consider before renting a house in Lagos. In order not to regret your choice of a house, later on, find out if there is a steady electrical supply. You do not want to go for three days without light.
Also, find out if there is a clean water supply, some areas have very dirty water that looks almost yellow. Good roads as well although many people compromise on this.
[READ MORE: The Best Way To Settle Into Your New Neighbourhood After Relocating]
Landlords: Some people have fallen prey to scam agents because they failed to meet the landlords. Meeting the legitimate owner of the property is important when renting an apartment in Lagos. One thing to note is that some landlords live in the same compound as their tenants. A number of people have had issues with the unenlightened, unreasonable landlords who either give tenants unnecessary headaches.
So before you rent a house know who your landlord is and if they would be staying in the same compound as you. This would help you make your decision.
Tenancy Agreement: This is the legal document you sign before renting a property. Some people are guilty of not reading or getting a proper understanding of the tenancy agreement before signing. Some agreements can be ridiculous so cross-check again, ask questions where necessary and understand the contract before you sign those documents.
[READ ALSO: You Must Ask These Important Questions Before Renting An Apartment]
