In Lagos, renting a house is an adventure, but it’s also a gamble. Some landlords are reasonable, but then there are those who’ll test your patience and sanity. I, unfortunately, got the latter.
It all started when I moved to Ikeja, searching for a place that was within my budget but still decent enough to call home. After what felt like an endless search, I finally found an apartment that seemed like it ticked all the boxes. The rent was manageable, and it wasn’t too far from work. I was ready to settle in and start a new chapter of my life in Lagos. But I was wrong.
The first red flag was when I moved in and realized the apartment was a fixer-upper. The bathroom door didn’t lock, the lights flickered constantly, and the plumbing was a joke. I called my landlord several times to fix these issues. Each time, he’d make excuses like, “Oh, it’s not that bad” or “I’ll send someone next week.” But weeks turned into months, and nothing changed.
Then came the rent hike. Out of nowhere, my landlord wanted to increase my rent by 50%. I was furious because we had a clear agreement. When I confronted him, he turned aggressive, telling me it was either I paid up or pack my things. I couldn’t believe my ears. Who talks like that to a tenant?
I tried to negotiate, but he wasn’t having it. That’s when he began showing up at my door unannounced, demanding cash as though he owned the place. The threats escalated, and he started using my rent payments as leverage for his personal needs. I tried contacting legal help, but in Lagos, legal systems are often slow, and by the time I had any proper counsel, the damage had been done.
Eventually, I had to pack up and leave. That experience still haunts me. I still cringe when I think about that landlord and how helpless I felt. But it taught me valuable lessons about dealing with Lagos landlords, and now I know better than to sign a lease without fully vetting the person I’m renting from.
Have you had a bad landlord experience? Share your story in the comments or send us a mail — we want to hear from you!
