How to Book a Shortlet in Lagos, Step by Step

To book a shortlet in Lagos, pick your dates and area, check the listing and its full price, then reserve and pay securely online on a proper payment page. You should see the cancellation terms before you pay. After that, you get a confirmation, the address, and your check-in details.

This guide walks through each step, using Cabans as the example. The same checks keep your money safe on any site.

Before you look: dates, guests and budget

Three decisions make the search much faster. Settle them first.

Your dates. Know your check-in and check-out days. The check-out day is the morning you leave, so it is not a night you pay for. Many flats let you in from 14:00 and ask you to leave by 11:00, but each host can set their own times.
Your guests. Count everyone who will sleep there, children included. Each flat has a limit.
Your budget for the whole bill. Plan for the nights, any cleaning fee, and a caution deposit. That is money held in case something is damaged, which you get back after you leave. Our guide to how much a shortlet in Lagos costs explains each part.

Choosing the area

In Lagos, the right area saves you hours in traffic. Stay close to where you will spend most of your time, not just where the night is cheapest.

If you are…	Look at
Here for work in Victoria Island or Ikoyi	Victoria Island, Ikoyi
Here for leisure, the beach or a group trip	Lekki, Lekki Phase 1
Flying in or out, or visiting family on the Mainland	Ikeja
Watching your budget	Yaba, Surulere, Ajah

For more detail on each area, read the best areas for a shortlet in Lagos. If you just want to see what you can book now, start at book a shortlet online.

Checking a listing properly

Photos sell a flat, but the details decide your stay. Check these before you choose:

Power. Does the flat have round-the-clock power, or set generator hours? Ask if the listing does not say.
Water and Wi-Fi. Is there a steady water supply, and is the Wi-Fi good enough for video calls?
Security. Is there a gate, a guard or an estate entrance? Some estate gates ask visitors for their name.
Check-in and check-out times. On Cabans these sit under the calendar, as “Check-in: from” and “Check-out: by”.
The caution deposit. Its amount shows as “Caution deposit: ₦…, refundable”.
Minimum and longest stay. Some hosts ask for at least two or three nights.
“Instant booking” or “Host confirms”. With instant booking, your stay is confirmed as soon as you pay. Otherwise the host must accept your paid request.

A shortlet only takes online bookings if its page shows the booking box with a calendar. There is no search filter for this, so open the listing to check.

Reserving and paying safely

Here is how booking works on Cabans, step by step:

Open a shortlet that takes online bookings. Open the listing. If it takes online bookings, you see a booking box with a calendar. On a phone, tap “Check availability” at the bottom of the screen.
Pick your dates. Tap your check-in day, then your check-out day. Green dates are available. The check-out day is the morning you leave, not a night you pay for.
Set the number of guests. Use the − and + buttons under “Guests”. Count everyone staying, children included. The host sets the most guests the flat takes.
Read the price and the cancellation line. The “Price Breakdown” card shows the nights, any discount, the “Cleaning fee”, the “Caution deposit (refundable)” and the “Total”. The booking box also says until when you can cancel for a full refund.
Press “Reserve”. Your dates are held for 30 minutes while you pay. You are not charged yet. Sign in if you are asked to.
Check out before the timer ends. Your stay is now in your basket, the “Shopping Cart”. Press “Proceed to Secure Checkout”. A stay is always paid for on its own.
Pay securely through Paystack. Pay online through Paystack, by card or another way Paystack offers on the payment page. Paystack’s payment fee is shown before you pay, and you pay it as part of your total.

A few rules keep this safe and simple:

Pay online through Paystack. You pay in naira, by card or another way Paystack offers on the payment page. Never pay the host directly for a Cabans stay.
You pay the payment fee. Paystack’s payment processing fee is paid by the guest. It is shown before you pay, so the amount you see is the amount you pay.
A stay is paid for on its own. Your basket cannot hold a stay and other items at checkout.
Up to three holds. You can hold at most three stays at once while you decide.
Read the cancellation line. If the stay starts inside the host’s cancellation period, the page says “No free cancellation” before you pay.

For more help, see how to reserve your dates and how to pay for your stay. Never pay a stranger by transfer to “hold” a flat. Our guide to shortlet scams in Nigeria shows why.

What happens after you pay

You land on a page called “Booking received”, and you get an email. What it says depends on the listing:

Instant booking:“Your stay is confirmed”. The address, check-in steps and house rules are on your stay page.
Host confirms:“Request sent to the host”, with the time the host has to accept. That is 24 hours unless the host chose another time. If the host declines or does not answer in time, the booking is refunded in full.

Your bookings live in “My Stays”. Find it under My Account. The exact address appears once your booking is confirmed.

Arrival day

Lagos traffic is the biggest risk on arrival day. Plan the trip, then follow these steps:

Read “Your stay guide” on your stay page. It has the address, the host’s directions and the house rules.
Leave extra time, and try to arrive in daylight if you do not know the area.
When you get there, press “I have arrived” on your stay page. It works from the day before check-in. You can add a short message, such as “at the gate with two bags”.
The host hands over the keys and completes your check-in.
Your door code and Wi-Fi password then appear on your stay page. Tap to show them. They are never sent by email.

Some hosts ask for an ID. If yours does, you upload it on your stay page. Only your host and the Cabans team can see it. It is kept securely for up to 6 years, as data laws require, and then deleted.

If plans change

Flights move and meetings change. Here is what you can do on Cabans:

Change dates or guests.Use “Change dates or guests” on your stay page. A shorter stay inside your dates, or fewer guests, can apply straight away. Longer stays, other dates or more guests need the host to accept.
Cancel in time.Before the free-cancellation deadline, press “Cancel booking”. You get back 100% of the booking you paid for, including the cleaning fee and the caution deposit. Paystack’s payment fee is not refunded. The refund reaches you within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days.
Too late to cancel. After the deadline, the booking cannot be cancelled. Message your host if your plans change.
If the host cancels, you always get a full refund.
Leaving early. If you check out before your last night, the unused nights are not refunded, unless the host approves a refund.
Staying longer. Once you are checked in, you can ask to extend your stay. The host must approve, and the extra nights must be free. You pay for them online through Paystack.

When you leave, press “I am leaving” so the host can check the flat. Your caution deposit comes back once the host has checked it. If the host has not settled it 14 days after you leave, you can ask the Cabans team to release it.

Ready to choose? Find a shortlet you can book, or browse shortlets in Lekki and Victoria Island. Own a flat in Lagos? List your short let and take bookings like these.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account to book a shortlet on Cabans?

You can look at dates and prices without one. You need to sign in when you press “Reserve”. After you sign in, you come back to the same listing with your dates and guests still filled in.

Am I charged when I press “Reserve”?

No. “Reserve” holds your dates for 30 minutes while you pay. Nothing is charged until you pay at checkout. If the time runs out, the dates go back on sale and nothing is taken.

Can I pay the host directly by bank transfer?

No. A stay on Cabans is paid online through Paystack, on the Cabans payment page. If a host or anyone else asks you to pay for a Cabans stay into their own account, do not pay, and tell the Cabans team.

Who pays the Paystack fee?

You do, as the guest. Paystack’s payment processing fee is added when you pay, and it is shown before you pay, so you always see the full amount first. The fee is not refunded if the booking is cancelled later.

How long does the host have to accept my booking?

Unless the listing says “Instant booking”, the host must accept your paid request within their answer time. That is 24 hours unless the host chose another time, and the page shows the exact deadline. If they decline or do not answer in time, the booking is refunded in full.

Can I cancel my shortlet booking?

Yes, until the free-cancellation deadline shown on your booking. Cancel before then and you get back 100% of the booking you paid for, including the cleaning fee and the caution deposit. Your refund reaches you within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days. After the deadline, a booking cannot be cancelled.

When do I get the door code and Wi-Fi password?

Once the host completes your check-in. They appear on your stay page when you tap to show them, and hide again after a minute. They are never sent by email.

Can I extend my stay once I am there?

Yes, you can ask. Once you are checked in, ask for more nights from your stay page. The host must approve, and the extra nights must be free on the calendar. You pay for the extra nights online through Paystack.

Take the next step

Keep your research practical: search for property in Lagos, compare live options for properties in Lagos, or list your property on Cabans to reach active buyers and renters.

Not ready yet? Get an email when new listings go up in Lagos.

This guide walks through each step, using Cabans as the example. The same checks keep your money safe on any site.

Before you look: dates, guests and budget

Three decisions make the search much faster. Settle them first.

Your dates. Know your check-in and check-out days. The check-out day is the morning you leave, so it is not a night you pay for. Many flats let you in from 14:00 and ask you to leave by 11:00, but each host can set their own times.
Your guests. Count everyone who will sleep there, children included. Each flat has a limit.
Your budget for the whole bill. Plan for the nights, any cleaning fee, and a caution deposit. That is money held in case something is damaged, which you get back after you leave. Our guide to how much a shortlet in Lagos costs explains each part.

Choosing the area

In Lagos, the right area saves you hours in traffic. Stay close to where you will spend most of your time, not just where the night is cheapest.

If you are…	Look at
Here for work in Victoria Island or Ikoyi	Victoria Island, Ikoyi
Here for leisure, the beach or a group trip	Lekki, Lekki Phase 1
Flying in or out, or visiting family on the Mainland	Ikeja
Watching your budget	Yaba, Surulere, Ajah

For more detail on each area, read the best areas for a shortlet in Lagos. If you just want to see what you can book now, start at book a shortlet online.

Checking a listing properly

Photos sell a flat, but the details decide your stay. Check these before you choose:

Power. Does the flat have round-the-clock power, or set generator hours? Ask if the listing does not say.
Water and Wi-Fi. Is there a steady water supply, and is the Wi-Fi good enough for video calls?
Security. Is there a gate, a guard or an estate entrance? Some estate gates ask visitors for their name.
Check-in and check-out times. On Cabans these sit under the calendar, as “Check-in: from” and “Check-out: by”.
The caution deposit. Its amount shows as “Caution deposit: ₦…, refundable”.
Minimum and longest stay. Some hosts ask for at least two or three nights.
“Instant booking” or “Host confirms”. With instant booking, your stay is confirmed as soon as you pay. Otherwise the host must accept your paid request.

A shortlet only takes online bookings if its page shows the booking box with a calendar. There is no search filter for this, so open the listing to check.

Reserving and paying safely

Here is how booking works on Cabans, step by step:

Open a shortlet that takes online bookings. Open the listing. If it takes online bookings, you see a booking box with a calendar. On a phone, tap “Check availability” at the bottom of the screen.
Pick your dates. Tap your check-in day, then your check-out day. Green dates are available. The check-out day is the morning you leave, not a night you pay for.
Set the number of guests. Use the − and + buttons under “Guests”. Count everyone staying, children included. The host sets the most guests the flat takes.
Read the price and the cancellation line. The “Price Breakdown” card shows the nights, any discount, the “Cleaning fee”, the “Caution deposit (refundable)” and the “Total”. The booking box also says until when you can cancel for a full refund.
Press “Reserve”. Your dates are held for 30 minutes while you pay. You are not charged yet. Sign in if you are asked to.
Check out before the timer ends. Your stay is now in your basket, the “Shopping Cart”. Press “Proceed to Secure Checkout”. A stay is always paid for on its own.
Pay securely through Paystack. Pay online through Paystack, by card or another way Paystack offers on the payment page. Paystack’s payment fee is shown before you pay, and you pay it as part of your total.

A few rules keep this safe and simple:

Pay online through Paystack. You pay in naira, by card or another way Paystack offers on the payment page. Never pay the host directly for a Cabans stay.
You pay the payment fee. Paystack’s payment processing fee is paid by the guest. It is shown before you pay, so the amount you see is the amount you pay.
A stay is paid for on its own. Your basket cannot hold a stay and other items at checkout.
Up to three holds. You can hold at most three stays at once while you decide.
Read the cancellation line. If the stay starts inside the host’s cancellation period, the page says “No free cancellation” before you pay.

For more help, see how to reserve your dates and how to pay for your stay. Never pay a stranger by transfer to “hold” a flat. Our guide to shortlet scams in Nigeria shows why.

What happens after you pay

You land on a page called “Booking received”, and you get an email. What it says depends on the listing:

Instant booking:“Your stay is confirmed”. The address, check-in steps and house rules are on your stay page.
Host confirms:“Request sent to the host”, with the time the host has to accept. That is 24 hours unless the host chose another time. If the host declines or does not answer in time, the booking is refunded in full.

Your bookings live in “My Stays”. Find it under My Account. The exact address appears once your booking is confirmed.

Arrival day

Lagos traffic is the biggest risk on arrival day. Plan the trip, then follow these steps:

Read “Your stay guide” on your stay page. It has the address, the host’s directions and the house rules.
Leave extra time, and try to arrive in daylight if you do not know the area.
When you get there, press “I have arrived” on your stay page. It works from the day before check-in. You can add a short message, such as “at the gate with two bags”.
The host hands over the keys and completes your check-in.
Your door code and Wi-Fi password then appear on your stay page. Tap to show them. They are never sent by email.

Some hosts ask for an ID. If yours does, you upload it on your stay page. Only your host and the Cabans team can see it. It is kept securely for up to 6 years, as data laws require, and then deleted.

If plans change

Flights move and meetings change. Here is what you can do on Cabans:

Change dates or guests.Use “Change dates or guests” on your stay page. A shorter stay inside your dates, or fewer guests, can apply straight away. Longer stays, other dates or more guests need the host to accept.
Cancel in time.Before the free-cancellation deadline, press “Cancel booking”. You get back 100% of the booking you paid for, including the cleaning fee and the caution deposit. Paystack’s payment fee is not refunded. The refund reaches you within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days.
Too late to cancel. After the deadline, the booking cannot be cancelled. Message your host if your plans change.
If the host cancels, you always get a full refund.
Leaving early. If you check out before your last night, the unused nights are not refunded, unless the host approves a refund.
Staying longer. Once you are checked in, you can ask to extend your stay. The host must approve, and the extra nights must be free. You pay for them online through Paystack.

Ready to choose? Find a shortlet you can book, or browse shortlets in Lekki and Victoria Island. Own a flat in Lagos? List your short let and take bookings like these.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account to book a shortlet on Cabans?

You can look at dates and prices without one. You need to sign in when you press “Reserve”. After you sign in, you come back to the same listing with your dates and guests still filled in.

Am I charged when I press “Reserve”?

No. “Reserve” holds your dates for 30 minutes while you pay. Nothing is charged until you pay at checkout. If the time runs out, the dates go back on sale and nothing is taken.

Can I pay the host directly by bank transfer?

Who pays the Paystack fee?

How long does the host have to accept my booking?

Can I cancel my shortlet booking?

When do I get the door code and Wi-Fi password?

Once the host completes your check-in. They appear on your stay page when you tap to show them, and hide again after a minute. They are never sent by email.

Can I extend my stay once I am there?

Related guides

Take the next step

Keep your research practical: search for property in Lagos, compare live options for properties in Lagos, or list your property on Cabans to reach active buyers and renters.

Not ready yet? Get an email when new listings go up in Lagos.