How to issue a rent receipt in Nigeria (with template)
A rent receipt is proof that rent was paid, for both you and your tenant. In Lagos, issuing one for every payment is a legal requirement. A good receipt takes two minutes and can settle an argument years later.
Not legal advice. The Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 requires landlords to issue rent receipts. Other states may differ, but giving receipts is good practice everywhere.
What a rent receipt should include
- A receipt number, so receipts can be tracked in order.
- Date the payment was received.
- Landlord’s name (or the agent receiving for the landlord).
- Tenant’s name.
- Property address, including flat or unit number.
- Amount received, in figures and words.
- The period the payment covers, for example “rent for 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027”.
- How it was paid (bank transfer with reference, cheque number, cash).
- Any balance still owed, if it was a part-payment.
- Signature of the person receiving the payment.
Rent receipt template
RENT RECEIPT No. [001]
Date: [date received]
Received from [tenant’s full name] the sum of ₦[amount in figures] ([amount in words] naira only) being rent for [property address] for the period [start date] to [end date].
Paid by: [bank transfer, reference ______ / cash / cheque no. ______]
Balance outstanding: ₦[amount, or “nil”]
Received by: ____________________ [name], for [landlord’s name], landlord
Keep rent separate from other payments
Issue a separate receipt, or separate lines, for each type of payment: rent, caution deposit, service charge, agency fee, legal fee. Mixing them causes disputes at move-out about what the deposit actually was.
Part-payments
When a tenant pays in instalments, issue a receipt for each one showing the balance. Never write “rent for the year” on a receipt for part of the year’s rent.
Bank transfers still need a receipt
A bank alert shows money moved, but not what it was for. Match each transfer to its period and issue a receipt anyway. Ask tenants to use a reference such as their flat number so you can match payments quickly.
Keeping records
- Keep a copy of every receipt, numbered in order.
- Store them with the tenancy agreement for each property.
- Keep them for at least six years. They support your tax records and any later dispute.
Receipts and invoices in Landlord Reminder
Landlord Reminder builds rent invoices and lease summaries as PDFs from your tenancy details, and lets you attach receipts and agreements to each tenancy, encrypted on your device. For payment schedules, see our rent schedule guide.