To find a shortlet in Nigeria, search by area on a property website, ask people you trust, or use an agent. Then check the full price, the cancellation terms and who you are paying before any money moves. Where you look changes how safe your money is and how sure your dates are.
This guide compares the main places people look for a shortlet (or short let), and ends with a checklist that works whichever way you book.
Where Nigerians look for shortlets
Most guests use one or more of these. Each works differently when it comes to your money:
| Where | How you book | How you usually pay | What protects you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classified ads sites | Message whoever posted the ad | Bank transfer | Only your own checks |
| Social media | Chat with the host or page | Bank transfer | The host’s reputation |
| Agents | The agent arranges it | Transfer to the agent or host | The agent’s reputation and a written agreement |
| Property websites | Contact the lister from the listing | Varies | The site’s listing checks |
| Booking pages | Pick dates and pay on the page | Online, on the page | The site’s rules on refunds and disputes |
Whichever you use, start with the area. Where you stay decides how long you spend in traffic. Search for shortlets near your plans, such as shortlets in Ikeja, shortlets in Lekki or shortlets in Abuja. Not sure which part of Lagos suits you? Read the best areas for a shortlet in Lagos.
Search smart: shortlist, then ask the same questions
You will find the right shortlet faster if you search in a set order:
- Pick two or three areas near where you will spend your time.
- Write your must-haves. Bedrooms, power backup, parking, a workspace, or space for children.
- Shortlist five homes that meet them. Ignore the rest for now.
- Send each host the same message, so you can compare the answers fairly.
- Compare full totals, not night prices, then choose.
Here is a message you can copy and change:
Hello. Is your flat free from [check-in date] to [check-out date] for [number] adults and [number] children? Please send the total for those dates, with any cleaning fee and caution deposit shown separately. Please also tell me the last day I can cancel for a full refund, how many hours of power there are, and the check-in and check-out times. Thank you.
A good host answers every question clearly. A host who dodges the price or the cancellation terms has told you something too.
Classified sites and social media
Classified ads sites, Instagram pages and WhatsApp groups have lots of shortlets. They are quick, and you often talk to the host directly. But anyone can post an ad, so you have to do the checking yourself.
Watch out for these problems:
- Copied photos. Scammers reuse pictures of real flats.
- The same flat, many “agents”. Several people may post one flat, each adding their own cut.
- Pressure to pay now. “Others are interested” is a classic push to skip your checks.
- A price far below similar flats. If it looks too good, it usually is.
- Nobody in the middle. If something goes wrong, there is no one to settle it.
How to use them safely:
- Ask for a live video call of the flat, not just photos.
- Search the photos online to see if they appear elsewhere.
- Ask for the area and a nearby landmark before you pay.
- Read comments and tagged posts from past guests.
- Get the full price, the caution deposit and the cancellation terms in writing.
- Pay only into an account in the host’s own name or their company’s name.
Our guide to shortlet scams in Nigeria lists ten warning signs in detail.
Agents
A shortlet agent finds homes for you and arranges the booking. An agent is useful when you do not know the city, need a big flat for a group, or want a long stay.
Before you use one, ask:
- What do you charge me, if anything? Some agents charge guests; others are paid by the host.
- Who do I pay? The agent, or the host directly? Get a receipt either way.
- Do you work for the owner? Ask how they are allowed to let the flat.
- Where is your office? A real business can tell you.
A good agent answers these without fuss. For more on choosing one, see how to find a good estate agent in Nigeria.
Booking pages that hold dates and take payment
Some websites let you book a shortlet the way you would book a hotel. You pick your dates on a calendar, see the full price and pay on the page. Your dates are then yours, and the site has rules for refunds and disputes.
Before you pay on any booking page, find out:
- Who holds your money until your stay?
- What are the cancellation rules, and when is the last day to cancel for a full refund?
- Who decides if the host wants to keep part of your caution deposit?
- When do you get the exact address, and how do you get in?
On Cabans, a shortlet that takes online bookings shows a booking box with a calendar on its own page. There is no search filter for this yet, so open the listings in your area and look for the calendar. Pick your dates, and you see the full price and the “Free cancellation until…” date before you pay. Press “Reserve” and your dates are held for 30 minutes.
You pay securely online through Paystack. Paystack’s payment processing fee is added, and you see it before you pay. It is not refunded if you cancel. The address appears on your stay page once the booking is confirmed, and your door code shows there after the host completes your check-in. It is never emailed. If a refund is due, it reaches you within 14 days at most, usually in about 5 days. The Cabans team decides any dispute about your deposit. See how to find a short let you can book.
Finding a shortlet at short notice
Need somewhere tonight or tomorrow? Last-minute searches are when people take the most risks. Move fast, but keep your checks:
- Search the exact area you need, not the whole city.
- Call as well as message. A quick call tells you whether a real person is behind the listing.
- Ask about check-in tonight. Who will meet you, and until what time?
- Still get the total in writing. A message with the price and the rules is enough.
- Do not pay a stranger in full before you arrive. If you must pay first, use a booking page that holds your money under clear rules.
A checklist whichever way you book
Wherever you found the shortlet, do not pay until you can tick every line:
- The full price in writing. Nights, any cleaning fee, the caution deposit and the total.
- What is included. Hours of power, water, Wi-Fi and any cleaning.
- The caution deposit. The amount, and when it comes back. See is a shortlet caution fee refundable?
- The cancellation terms. The last day to cancel for a full refund.
- The house rules. Visitors, parties, noise and smoking.
- Check-in and check-out times. Do they fit your travel?
- Where it is. The area before you pay, and the exact address before you travel.
- Who you are paying. The account name should match the host or their company.
- A receipt for every payment. Especially the caution deposit.
- A video of the flat on arrival. It protects your deposit when you leave.
Ready to look? Find a shortlet you can book and start with Victoria Island, Port Harcourt or wherever your trip takes you.
Have a shortlet guests cannot find? List your short let where they search by area.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a shortlet in Nigeria?
On property websites that list shortlets by area, on classified ads sites, on social media, through agents, and through people you know. Start with the area you need, then compare a few homes for the same dates.
How do I find a cheap shortlet?
Compare the full price for the same dates in two or three nearby areas. Staying a little further out, staying longer, avoiding the busiest nights and sharing a bigger flat can all lower what you pay each night.
Is it safe to book a shortlet from social media?
It can be, if you check first. Ask for a live video call, the full price in writing and the cancellation terms. Pay only into an account in the host’s or their company’s name, and never pay a stranger to “hold” a flat.
Can I see a shortlet before I book it?
If you are nearby, ask for a viewing. If you are not, ask for a live video call that shows every room, the entrance and the view from a window. A host with a real flat can usually arrange one or the other.
What should I ask a shortlet host before booking?
Ask for the total for your exact dates, with the cleaning fee and caution deposit shown. Then ask for the cancellation terms, the house rules, the hours of power, the check-in and check-out times, and who will meet you when you arrive.
How far ahead should I look for a shortlet?
A few weeks ahead is usually enough for a normal trip. For December, public holidays and big events, look a month or two ahead, because the best-value homes go first.
How do I know if a shortlet on Cabans can be booked online?
Open the listing. If it takes online bookings, you see a booking box with a calendar and a “Reserve” button. There is no search filter for this yet, so open the listings in your area and look for the calendar.
Related guides
What is a shortlet? · Shortlet scams: warning signs · Holiday rentals in Nigeria · Shortlet in Ikeja · Avoiding property scams
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.
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