Short Let in Lagos: The Complete Renter's Guide

Renting a short let apartment in Lagos is one of the best accommodation decisions you can make — whether you're visiting for business, relocating on a temporary assignment, escaping your home environment for a proper recharge, or waiting for a longer-term rental to come through. A good Lagos short let gives you full-apartment comfort, reliable power, working internet, a kitchen, and privacy at rates that compete directly with hotels — often for less cost once you factor in what you actually get.

This guide gives you everything you need: what short lets actually cost per night and per month, which Lagos areas suit which purposes, what should be included, the red flags that signal a scam, and how to book safely.

What is a short let apartment in Lagos?

A short let is a furnished apartment rented for a short period — typically anywhere from one night to three months. Unlike a hotel room, a short let gives you a full living space: a kitchen you can actually cook in, a separate bedroom, a sitting room, and in many cases multiple bathrooms. Unlike a standard long-term rental, there is no tenancy agreement, no year-upfront payment, and no agency fee — you book, pay, and move in.

In Lagos, short lets range from compact studio apartments to luxury 4-bedroom penthouses with private pools. The market has grown enormously since 2020, driven by demand from business travellers, diaspora returnees, relocating professionals, and increasingly by local Nigerians choosing staycations over hotel stays or travel abroad.

How much does a short let cost in Lagos?

Short let prices in Lagos vary by area, apartment size, quality of furnishing, and included services. Here are current market ranges:

Nightly rates

• Mainland (Ikeja, Yaba, Gbagada): 1-bed ₦35,000–₦75,000 | 2-bed ₦55,000–₦130,000 | 3-bed ₦100,000–₦200,000
• Lekki / Ajah / Chevron corridor: 1-bed ₦70,000–₦180,000 | 2-bed ₦120,000–₦300,000 | 3-bed ₦200,000–₦500,000
• Victoria Island: 1-bed ₦90,000–₦250,000 | 2-bed ₦180,000–₦450,000 | 3-bed ₦350,000–₦800,000
• Ikoyi (premium serviced): 1-bed ₦120,000–₦350,000 | 2-bed ₦250,000–₦600,000 | 3-bed ₦400,000–₦1,200,000+

Monthly rates (28–31 nights)

Monthly short let rates offer a significant discount over multiplying the nightly rate — typically 30–50% less. A 1-bedroom Lekki apartment at ₦120,000/night would typically list at ₦1.8m–₦2.5m/month for a monthly booking. Monthly rates are the best value for assignments of 2–12 weeks and avoid the premium service fee structure of nightly bookings.

• Mainland (Ikeja, Yaba): 1-bed ₦350,000–₦700,000/month | 2-bed ₦550,000–₦1.2m/month
• Lekki / Ajah: 1-bed ₦700,000–₦1.8m/month | 2-bed ₦1.2m–₦3m/month | 3-bed ₦2m–₦5m/month
• Victoria Island: 1-bed ₦900,000–₦2.5m/month | 2-bed ₦1.8m–₦4.5m/month
• Ikoyi: 1-bed ₦1.2m–₦3.5m/month | 2-bed ₦2.5m–₦6m/month | 3-bed ₦4m–₦12m/month

Browse short lets in Lekki | Browse short lets in Victoria Island | Browse short lets in Ikoyi | Browse short lets in Ikeja

What should be included in a Lagos short let

A good Lagos short let should include the following as standard. If a listing omits any of these, ask explicitly before booking:

• Fully furnished rooms: Bed with mattress, sofa set, dining table, wardrobe. Quality varies — request photos of the actual apartment (not stock images) and read reviews.
• Fully equipped kitchen: Cooker/microwave, kettle, pots, plates, and cutlery. Essential if you plan to cook even occasionally — eating out every meal in Lagos adds up quickly.
• 24-hour generator backup: Non-negotiable in Lagos. Confirm explicitly that the building has a diesel generator that runs continuously, not just for a few hours. Ask how the diesel cost is handled — included in the rate or billed separately.
• Stable internet / Wi-Fi: Confirm speed and reliability, especially for business travellers. Most good short lets offer 10–50Mbps broadband; top-end serviced apartments in VI and Ikoyi offer fibre.
• Air conditioning: All modern Lagos short lets should include A/C in both the bedroom and sitting room. Confirm before booking.
• DSTV or streaming: Typically included. Confirm channel package if it matters.
• Weekly or bi-weekly cleaning: Most serviced apartments include at least one cleaning per week. Nightly stays often include daily tidying.
• Security: Confirm the security provision — 24-hour estate security, CCTV, and estate access control are standard in good short lets. Avoid standalone buildings with no security presence.
• Water supply: Confirm borehole vs LAWMA supply. A functional overhead water tank is the minimum — running out of water mid-stay is a common complaint in lower-quality listings.

Choosing the right Lagos area for your short let

Your choice of Lagos area will define your daily experience more than the apartment itself. Here's a practical breakdown:

• Victoria Island — for business travellers: The highest concentration of corporate offices, law firms, banks, and multinationals in Nigeria. Walk to meetings. Best for short business trips where convenience to work is the priority. Restaurants, bars, and amenities are within walking distance of most VI short lets. Traffic in and out of VI can be severe — if your meetings are spread across Lagos, the commute advantage disappears. See short lets in Victoria Island.
• Lekki Phase 1 / Chevron — for the best overall balance: The most popular short let destination in Lagos for a reason. Good apartments, Atlantic access, a growing food and nightlife scene, and reasonable proximity to VI. Best for leisure stays, extended business stays, and family visits. Expressway traffic is the main drawback for cross-Lagos trips. See short lets in Lekki.
• Ikoyi — for premium leisure and luxury: Lagos' quietest and most prestigious residential island. Ideal for recharging, anniversary stays, or hosting visiting family who expect the best. Limited nightlife but excellent fine dining, the Ikoyi Club, and lagoon views. The most expensive area, with the best-maintained buildings. See short lets in Ikoyi.
• Ikeja — for mainland value: Best value-for-money short lets in Lagos. Good for airport proximity (15 minutes), frequent travellers, and those working in Ikeja GRA or Computer Village. Lower nightly rates with many good-quality apartments. See short lets in Ikeja.
• Ajah / Sangotedo — for extended Island-axis stays on a budget: Lower rates than central Lekki with improving amenities. Best for monthly stays where you'll be working locally. See short lets in Ajah.
• Yaba — for tech professionals and short academic visits: Walkable to UNILAG and most tech hubs. Fewer luxury options but strong value for solo travellers and couples. See short lets in Yaba.

For a deeper neighbourhood comparison: Best Areas for a Short Let in Lagos.

Short let scams in Lagos: how to spot them and stay safe

Short let scams are one of the most common property fraud categories in Lagos. The pattern is usually the same: an attractive listing at a slightly-below-market price, a friendly host who insists on WhatsApp communication, a request for partial or full payment via bank transfer before viewing or confirming the booking, and then either a fake apartment or no response after payment.

Here is how to stay safe:

• Book through a verified platform. Cabans vets short let listings and hosts before they appear. Avoid booking direct from Instagram or WhatsApp-only contacts without a verifiable listing history.
• Request a video call tour before paying. Ask the host to show you the apartment live on video — the actual unit, not recorded footage. A legitimate host will accommodate this. A scammer typically cannot.
• Never pay via informal bank transfer to an unverified contact. Legitimate platforms provide structured payment flows with receipts. If you're booking direct, insist on a written contract, a business name, and a physical address before any transfer.
• Check reviews. Listings with no reviews or reviews that all sound identical should be treated with caution. Ask for contact details for past guests if the host cannot provide verifiable review history.
• Prices too good to be true are red flags. If a 2-bedroom Lekki Phase 1 apartment is listed at ₦40,000/night with full service included, something is wrong. Use the rate ranges in this guide as a reality check.
• Confirm the physical address and verify it on Google Maps before arriving. Some scam listings use real building photos but provide a non-existent address.

Short let vs hotel in Lagos: the honest comparison

For stays of three nights or more, a good short let apartment almost always beats a comparable hotel on value — especially in Lagos where hotel service charges, VAT, and levy additions frequently add 20–40% to the room rate. A ₦80,000/night hotel room in Lekki typically becomes ₦100,000–₦110,000 after charges. The equivalent short let apartment at ₦90,000/night includes breakfast-capable kitchen, a full sitting room, reliable internet, and no checkout pressure.

Hotels win on: room service, daily cleaning, consistent brand standards, same-day booking, and being the safest option for solo one-night stops when you don't have time to vet an apartment.

Short lets win on: space per naira, kitchen access (crucial for dietary restrictions or cost control on long stays), privacy, local neighbourhood experience, and value on monthly or extended stays.

See the full comparison: Short Let vs Hotel in Lagos: Which Is Better Value?

How to book a short let on Cabans

1. Search by area and dates. Use the short let search to filter by location, number of bedrooms, and your dates.
2. Check the listing details carefully. Confirm power backup, internet, cleaning frequency, and what is included before shortlisting.
3. Contact the host or book directly. Cabans listings show verified host information. You can message the host to confirm availability, ask for a video tour, or book directly.
4. Pay through the platform. Use the structured payment flow — it creates a booking record, a receipt, and a clear cancellation policy.
5. Confirm check-in details 24 hours before arrival. Confirm arrival time, key collection, and any check-in instructions with the host the day before. Lagos traffic is unpredictable — build buffer time into your check-in plan.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a short let cost in Lagos per night?

Lagos short let apartments range from ₦35,000–₦80,000 per night for a 1-bedroom on the mainland, ₦70,000–₦200,000 per night in Lekki and Victoria Island, and ₦150,000–₦500,000+ for luxury 3-bedroom serviced apartments in Ikoyi. Monthly rates offer 30–50% discounts over nightly rates.

What is the minimum stay for a Lagos short let?

Most Lagos short lets have a minimum stay of 1–3 nights. Some premium serviced apartments require a minimum of 7 nights. For monthly rates, most hosts require a minimum of 28 nights. Check the specific listing for minimum stay requirements before enquiring.

Can I get a short let in Lagos for one month?

Yes — monthly short lets are one of the most common booking patterns in Lagos, particularly for relocating professionals, oil sector workers on rotation, and diaspora returnees. Monthly rates are significantly below nightly rates. Browse monthly short lets in Lekki and Victoria Island.

Are Lagos short lets safe?

Good Lagos short lets — particularly those in managed estates in Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Ikeja GRA — have robust security: 24-hour security guards, CCTV, estate access control, and perimeter fencing. Security quality drops significantly in non-estate buildings and outer residential areas. Always confirm the security provision of the specific building before booking, and book through a verified platform like Cabans that vets listings.