A Lagos resident has stirred conversation online after sharing her frustrating experience with hidden rental fees during a recent house hunt in the city.
According to her post, the advertised rent for the apartment was ₦1.8 million. However, she was stunned when the total bill ballooned to ₦2.7 million—thanks to additional charges labeled as “₦300,000 commission,” “₦200,000 agreement fee,” and “₦400,000 caution fee.”
“This is not house rent again. It’s fiction,” questioning the justification behind the layered fees. “What exactly are we agreeing on in that agreement fee? And the commission, for what exactly? Are we buying shares or renting a flat?”
Her post has since gone viral, with many Lagosians echoing her sentiments about the lack of regulation in rental transactions. While it’s common practice for agents to charge commission and landlords to request caution fees, the rising amounts—and lack of transparency—are drawing fresh issues.
Real estate experts have weighed in, saying that while some fees are standard in the Lagos market, there is a growing need for regulation and standardization to protect tenants from exploitation.
This incident reignites the debate on housing affordability and accountability in Nigeria’s largest city, where demand often outweighs supply and agents operate with little oversight.
As house-hunting season peaks, experts advise potential renters to always request a breakdown of costs in advance, involve legal counsel where possible, and push for receipts and documentation.
