How to screen tenants in Nigeria before you hand over the keys
A careful check before signing is the cheapest protection a landlord has. Most problem tenancies, from unpaid rent to damage and disputes, can be spotted early by asking the right questions and checking the answers.
Start with a written application
Ask every applicant to fill in a short form. It gives you the facts to check and shows how seriously they take the process. Ask for:
- full name, phone number and email address;
- current address and how long they have lived there;
- employer or business name, role and monthly income;
- number of people who will live in the property;
- reason for moving;
- contact details for their current landlord and a guarantor.
Check identity
Ask for a government-issued ID such as a National Identification Number (NIN) slip, international passport, driver’s licence or voter’s card, and make sure the name matches the application. For a company tenant, ask for the certificate of incorporation and a letter on company letterhead signed by an authorised officer.
Check they can afford the rent
- Employed applicants: an employment letter or recent payslips, and a bank statement covering three to six months.
- Self-employed: business registration and bank statements showing regular income.
A common rule of thumb is that rent should not take more than about a third of the household’s income. Someone stretching far beyond that is more likely to fall behind at renewal.
Speak to the current landlord
This is the most useful call you will make. Ask:
- How long have they rented from you, and is the rent paid on time?
- Do they owe you anything now?
- Have there been complaints from neighbours?
- What condition is the property in?
- Would you rent to them again?
Be cautious if the current landlord seems very keen for them to leave, and make sure you are speaking to the real landlord, not a friend.
Use a guarantor
A guarantor agrees in writing to pay if the tenant does not. Choose someone with a stable income or property, get their ID and contact details, and have them sign a guarantor form as part of the tenancy agreement.
Meet in person
Show the property yourself or through a trusted agent. Note whether the applicant arrives on time, asks sensible questions and is clear about who will live there. Treat every applicant the same way and judge them on the facts you have checked.
Warning signs
- Unwilling to provide ID or references.
- Offering several years’ rent in cash, immediately, with no questions.
- Story changes between the form and the conversation.
- Wants to move in before the agreement is signed.
After you choose
Sign a full agreement (see our tenancy agreement checklist), record the move-in condition, and add the tenancy to Landlord Reminder so its renewal date is tracked from day one.