Managing property in Nigeria from abroad: a landlord’s guide
Owning a flat in Lagos or a house in Abuja while you live in London, Houston or Toronto is common, and so are the problems: rent that arrives late or not at all, renewals that slip by, and a relative or agent you cannot easily check on. Most of these can be prevented with a few written arrangements and a calendar you actually follow.
Not legal or tax advice. Tenancy law is set by each Nigerian state, and tax rules depend on where you live. Use this guide to plan, then confirm the details with a Nigerian lawyer and a tax adviser in your country.
1. Decide who looks after the property
Someone has to be on the ground to show the property, collect keys, deal with repairs and serve notices. The usual choices are:
| Option | Works well when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Family member or friend | You have one property and someone you trust nearby | Favours are hard to enforce. Agree in writing what they do and whether they are paid |
| Estate agent or property manager | You have several units or no one local | Check how they are registered, ask for references, and agree the fee in writing. Management fees are often a percentage of the yearly rent |
| Facility manager (estates) | The property is in a serviced estate | They maintain the estate, not your tenancy. You still need someone for rent and renewals |
2. Put the arrangement in writing
- A management agreement that lists what the manager does (rent collection, repairs up to an agreed amount, inspections), what they are paid, how often they report to you and how either side can end it.
- A power of attorney only if the manager must sign documents for you. Keep it specific to letting and managing the named property rather than a general power. One signed abroad usually has to be notarised and authenticated before it is accepted in Nigeria; ask your lawyer which steps apply in your state.
- A written tenancy agreement for every tenant, with the tenancy type, start and end dates, rent and how renewal works.
3. Have rent paid straight to you
The single most useful rule for an absent landlord: tenants pay rent into an account in your name, not the manager’s personal account. A Nigerian naira account you can see in your banking app works well. Ask for the transfer reference on every payment and issue a receipt that shows the period covered.
If the manager does collect cash, agree that it is paid into your account within a set number of days and that you receive a copy of the receipt given to the tenant.
4. Plan renewals months ahead, in your time zone
Many Nigerian tenancies are yearly, with rent paid upfront. Under the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011, a landlord who wants to end a yearly tenancy generally needs to give at least six months’ notice to quit where the agreement says nothing else. From abroad, that means acting long before the renewal date:
| Before the renewal date | What to do from abroad |
|---|---|
| Six months | Decide whether the tenant stays and whether rent changes. If ending a yearly tenancy, have notice served now |
| Three months | Have your manager raise renewal with the tenant and send the new rent in writing |
| One month | Confirm terms and send the invoice for the next year |
| Seven days | Check payment has arrived in your account and the paperwork is signed |
Our renewal and notice periods guide covers each notice type in more detail.
5. Check on the property without flying home
- Ask for dated photos or a short video after every change of tenant and at least once a year.
- Do a video call walk-through with the manager before agreeing any large repair.
- Ask for quotes and receipts for repairs, and pay contractors directly where you can.
- Keep the tenancy agreement, receipts, notices and photos for each property together in one place.
6. Think about tax in both countries
Rent from a Nigerian property is generally taxable in Nigeria, even if you live elsewhere. Where the tenant is a company, it may deduct withholding tax from the rent and give you a receipt for it, so check the amount you receive against the agreed rent.
Your country of residence may also expect you to declare the income. The UK, for example, taxes its residents on foreign rental income, and US citizens report income from anywhere in the world. Tax already paid in Nigeria can often be credited against the tax due at home. The rules and rates change, so get advice from a tax adviser who knows both countries, and keep every receipt.
A checklist for absent landlords
- A named person on the ground, with a written agreement
- Rent paid into an account in your name, with receipts
- A written tenancy agreement for every unit
- Renewal dates in a calendar, with reminders six, three and one month ahead
- Photos of the property at least once a year
- Tax advice in Nigeria and your home country
Keep every renewal date in one place
Landlord Reminder is free and works from anywhere. Add each Nigerian property once with its renewal date and the app reminds you three months, one month and seven days ahead, so a renewal never surprises you from the other side of the world. To check what a yearly rent works out to per month, use the rent calculator.