In 2021 I made a big move from Port Harcourt to Lagos state. It was big for me at the time because not only was I young, but besides moving away for university and living with my grandmother for a few years, I had never lived anywhere else and I had always lived in the south of Nigeria. I frankly, didn’t know what I was doing or what I was heading towards. Before going house hunting my aunt warned me about a few things;
- Always check the walls. Lagos floods and agents will try to cover that up.
- Be wary of houses with reasonable price ranges and be very wary if the house is particularly cheap. It may flood or might be in such a horrible location, that you will end up regretting that purchase.
- Never, ever let them know you’re single.
- Do your research before going to check out any building.
- Trust no one, especially your agent. They lie through their teeth.
With all this, you can bet my hackles were raised, and I was extra careful. However, nothing can prepare you for the reality of house hunting in Lagos until you experience it. From outrageous price ranges to questionable structures and absurdly rude agents, house hunting in Lagos is certainly not for the faint of heart. With all I went through, three things stand out the most.
My first landlord thought I was married to my then-boyfriend because if I hadn’t said that, I wouldn’t have gotten the place. I remember the agent stressing that I fill the form as a married woman. I was so upset and asked why. My guy had the audacity to tell me to do as he said. The part of me that goes off around disrespectful men started to rear her big, fat head. It wasn’t until I had a conversation with my aunt that I realised, I really had no say here. I, of course still checked the agent but I did as I was asked. I had no choice.
The second is when an agent straight up asked, ‘Are you Yoruba? The landlord will only accept a Yoruba tenant’. My partner and I told the agent we were mixed. It was the only reason we were allowed to see the place. Every time I remember this, I curl my lip in disgust. His racism/tribalism was clearly showing.
The last was just sad. The agent didn’t want to be rude but he called my partner and me to the side and quietly asked us if we were working. He said the caretaker was sceptical because two women were looking to rent the home. Who was paying?
I’ve had a shit ton of culture shocks since I moved here. The most shocking thing was finding out there were culture shocks at all. I used to think it was all Nigeria. There can’t be that much of a difference. I’ve learnt that there is. I have also learnt that when it comes to housing if you’re not a member of the ridiculously rich or if you don’t have a ridiculously rich sponsor and if you are a single woman in Lagos, Nigeria then all the odds will forever be against you. You will have to fight twice as hard to get anything you want.
Like me, so many other women have experienced this and 6 of them decided to share their stories with us;
Titi, 23
A few months ago, I was house-hunting, and let me tell you, these misogynistic, slug-brained men are something else—everything’s a joke to them. I was searching for apartments in Ajah because it’s cost-effective yet still central.
The things I’ve seen in this Lagos. One agent showed up with four other people and expected me to pay a viewing fee for all of them, while they shoved their unsolicited advice down my throat.
I mostly find houses and agents through online listings. While I felt relatively safe during most viewings, there was always that lingering fear for my safety
I considered a lot of things while house hunting including the proximity of churches and mosques because heaven knows I like my sleep. I also considered things like the landlord being in the same building, I like my peace.
Never settle or it will be a problem the entire year, let your house be 70% of everything you have on your list individually (eg 70% spacious, 70% good environment etc) and then create your comfort space. Don’t be scared to spend money tooshing up or renovating a few things because you will be grateful to yourself that you did it. Your home is your solace. It needs to give you some sense of peace or joy.
Bolaji, 22
The main challenge I faced while house hunting was money. Lagos is expensive. Don’t let anyone fool you. You can get a good and comfortable 2-bedroom apartment for 500k in Bayelsa. You should see what 500k gets you here. At a point, you just start to look poor, but really, these things are ridiculously overpriced.
I found properties through agents and dealing with them has been an extreme sport. I have no memorable moments of my experience. I live in Nigeria. Everything is war.
Leema, 27
House hunting in this Lagos as a woman is absolutely HORRIBLE.
I started my journey because I had to. I was plagued with wet walls, flooded areas when it rains, thin walls, and so many children everywhere.
I looked at places in Gbagada, Yaba, and Ogudu because of their proximity to the island. I also needed a place that had a good sense of security, good water, good light, and few or no kids.
The agents I dealt with were rude simply because we were women. They constantly made remarks implying someone else—most likely a man—was paying the rent, and the landlord kept asking if there was a male figure to stand in for us. The agent even suggested we get a man to handle the interactions.
I found most properties through online listings and agents on social media. Be careful with agents—they can be rude and often try to gaslight you. Honestly, my one piece of advice, as silly as it sounds (and I hate to say it), is to get a male figure, like your brother or a friend, to handle the process. If not, they will frustrate you.
What I’ll never forget is a lawyer telling us that when he found out it was two young women looking to rent, he only invited us out of courtesy. He bluntly said there was no way they would rent their house to two young, unmarried women.
Elohor, 29
I’m currently house hunting, and let me tell you—every day is a humbling experience. The worst part has to be the inflation. Everything is so expensive, it feels like the prices are calling me broke in a thousand different ways.
I needed a place because I wanted to leave my mother’s house for my own sanity. I looked at apartments in Yaba because it’s central and close to all the places that bring me joy. I like to live close to places where I do fun things instead of moving necessarily to where is close to work. Jobs change but fun remains.
I’ve been looking at certain things during this process; the landlord mustn’t live there or even close by, no dogs (because people don’t clean up after their pets) and no music producers (my current neighbour has scarred me).
The culture barrier in Lagos is real. Everywhere I go, I’m asked, ‘Hope you aren’t Igbo?’ Since I’m not just Igbo but also Urhobo, I say no. Most of the people asking can’t even distinguish Igbo names from non-Igbo ones, so I just keep it moving.
Some people don’t like to rent to single women, especially places that have a landlord living in them. In my last apartment, my landlord, who didn’t even live there, would come by and harass me—sometimes as late as 9 p.m. It didn’t stop until I finally shouted at him.
Right now, I’m using Twitter, two agents on WhatsApp and word of mouth but really, people lie a lot, that’s all I can say. However, my current agent is someone I’ve worked with before so I feel pretty safe with him. He was recommended to me.
To anyone about to embark on this dirty journey; get ready to suffer. There is light at the end of the tunnel though.
The only memorable thing I can think of is that my agent is the sweetest person ever! And I once almost rented a house from a developer who looked eerily like GRV. I was just blushing anyhow.
Beulah, 26
I haven’t searched for a house recently, the last time I went house hunting was early last year. I honestly just wanted my own space. At the time I lived with my aunt while doing my NYSC. However, when I found out my girls were renting a place, I knew that was my chance.
We looked for places around the Ajah axis because it’s where you can get affordable housing for small girls like myself. Lol. We were mostly concerned about the flood. We were all Port Harcourt, Warri and Bayelsa girls. We were used to the south-south. This method of house hunting- checking walls for water lines was, for lack of a better word, an interesting experience for us.
We found apartments through referrals and online listings.
We ended up getting a house where the landlord wanted just Yoruba people. Let’s just say we had a pretty eventful year. Despite all we faced, all I can say is that having a place to call your own is just always better.
To everyone embarking on this journey, it’s not going to be easy o… but you’ve got this!
Paula, 26
I’m currently house hunting, and I’ve been extra cautious with agents and landlords ever since one nearly assaulted me.
I’m switching my place of work at the moment so I’m moving to be closer to that area. The pay is worth it. I’m looking at places in Chevron only. Certain things are important to me; space, tranquility, aesthetics too if I’m being honest. I would also love a place where I can smoke my za in peace. Nothing beats smoking in the comfort of your own home.
The last agent I saw was the one who tried to assault me. After showing me the last house on our list that day, he told me he liked me and thought we could be something more. Then, he started moving closer, trying to trap me against a wall. He even began unbuckling his pants while inching toward me. I just laughed. He was skinny, and let’s say, I don’t go to the gym for nothing. Before he could even finish his move, I had already punched him in the nose and ran out.
If I were a man, that idiot wouldn’t have tried anything. I suffered it because l’m a woman.
I’ve gotten most apartments through online listings and all I have to say to everyone working with agents they don’t know is that you just have to be smarter than them. They love to advise you on what’s best for you and they specialize in overpriced rubbish because they get the most cut in those properties. Always try to be one step ahead.
