Shortlet Duplex for a Group: What to Check

A shortlet duplex suits a group that wants to stay together: a family visit, a wedding party, friends on holiday or a work team. Before you book one, check five things: the guest limit, the beds in each room, the house rules for groups, the caution deposit, and how you will split the cost.

Get these right and a big house can cost less per person, and be more fun, than several hotel rooms. Get them wrong and one person can end up paying for everyone.

When a duplex makes sense

A duplex is a home on two floors, usually with the living rooms downstairs and the bedrooms upstairs. Our guide to duplexes in Nigeria explains the types. For a group stay, one makes sense when:

• You want to be together. One living room, one kitchen and one compound beat four rooms spread along a hotel corridor.
• You are coming for an event. Weddings, burials, graduations and family reunions often bring relatives from far away for several nights.
• You are cooking. A big kitchen feeds a family for much less than eating out every day.
• You need some privacy. Separate floors let the older relatives rest while the younger ones stay up.
• You are a work team. A shared house can give everyone a room and still leave space for meetings.

A duplex is not always the best choice. Think again if:

• someone in the group cannot manage stairs and there is no bedroom downstairs;
• the group is small, and a three-bedroom flat would do;
• you want everything done for you, in which case a hotel or serviced apartment may suit better.

Guest limits and bedrooms

Start with a list of everyone who will sleep there, children included. Then check the listing against it.

• The guest limit. The host sets the most people who can stay. Stick to it. Extra sleepers put your deposit and your booking at risk.
• Beds, not just bedrooms. Ask what size each bed is, and whether any room has two beds. A four-bedroom duplex with four double beds sleeps eight adults only if they are happy to share.
• Bathrooms. Count them. Eight people and two bathrooms means queues every morning.
• A room downstairs. Ask for one if grandparents or anyone with bad knees is coming.
• Day visitors. Relatives who come for the day but sleep elsewhere may still need the host’s permission.
• The boys’ quarters. Many duplexes have a BQ, a small flat in the compound. Ask whether it comes with the booking, whether it is furnished, and whether people sleeping there count towards the guest limit. It can be handy for a driver or a nanny.

Is a duplex more than you need? Compare the smaller sizes in 1, 2 or 3 bedroom: which size do you need?

On Cabans, the booking box shows the host’s limit, such as “Up to 4 guests”, and you cannot book for more. If the host has set no limit, it says “Everyone staying, children included”. The number of guests does not change the price. Need to change the number later? Fewer guests on the same dates is changed straight away from your stay page; more guests needs the host to agree. See how to check dates and the price for a stay.

House rules for groups

Big groups are where house rules matter most. Read them before you book, and make sure everyone in the group reads them too.

• Parties and events. Do not assume a big house means a party is allowed. Ask first, say how many visitors you expect, and get the answer in writing.
• Visitors. Ask whether day visitors are allowed and until what time.
• Noise. Some estates have quiet hours. Music late at night can get you asked to leave.
• Estate rules. Some estates limit cars, need visitors to be booked in at the gate, or close the gate at night. Ask the host.
• Smoking and cooking. Check where smoking is allowed, and whether you can cook outside.
• Power and fuel. Ask how many hours the generator runs, and who pays for extra fuel.

Choose one lead guest. They book, talk to the host, and make sure the group follows the rules. It saves confusion for everyone.

Planning a celebration? Read booking a shortlet for a party in Lagos before you choose.

The caution deposit on a big stay

A caution deposit is money the host holds in case something is damaged. You get it back after you leave, less the cost of any damage the host can show. A bigger home often has a bigger deposit, so check the amount before you book.

With a group, the deposit needs a plan:

1. Agree who pays it. Usually the lead guest, as part of the booking.
2. Agree how it comes back. It normally goes back to whoever paid, so the lead guest shares it out afterwards.
3. Agree who pays for damage. The simplest rule: whoever breaks it, pays for it.
4. Take photos when you arrive. Report anything already broken to the host straight away.
5. Leave it as you found it. Wash up, take the rubbish out and follow the host’s check-out list.

On Cabans, the deposit is shown before you pay, as “Caution deposit” with its amount and the word “refundable”. It is a fixed amount, never discounted. During the stay, use “Report an issue” on your stay page if you find something broken. After check-out the host checks the home and returns the deposit, or raises a question about it. Nothing is kept until the Cabans team decides. If the host has not settled it 14 days after you leave, you can ask our team to release it. Refunds reach you within 14 days at most, usually in about 5 days. See how to get your caution deposit back.

Splitting the cost fairly

Agree the money before anyone pays. Pick one rule and stick to it:

• An equal split. Simple, and fair when everyone gets a similar room.
• A split by bedroom. Each bedroom pays a share. A couple in one room pays one share between them.
• A bigger share for the best room. For example, in a four-bedroom duplex the main bedroom with its own bathroom pays two shares and the other three rooms pay one share each. That is five shares, so the main bedroom pays two-fifths of the total and each other room one-fifth.
• A split by nights. Fair when some people arrive late or leave early.

Share the full price breakdown with the group: nights, any discount, cleaning fee and caution deposit. Collect everyone’s share before the lead guest books, not after.

On Cabans, the lead guest pays online through Paystack. Paystack’s processing fee is paid by the guest and shown before paying, so include it in the total you split. It is not refunded, and any refund goes back to the card or account that paid. Our guide on how to split a shortlet booking with friends goes further.

Your group checklist before you book

Send this list to the host, or check each point in the listing, before anyone pays:

1. How many people can sleep here, children included?
2. What beds are in each room, and how many bathrooms are there?
3. Is there a bedroom downstairs?
4. Are day visitors allowed, and until what time?
5. Are parties or events allowed? If yes, how many people?
6. How many hours of power are there, and who pays for extra fuel?
7. How many cars can park inside the compound?
8. What is the caution deposit, and when does it come back?
9. Until when can we cancel for a full refund?
10. What are the check-in and check-out times?

Keep the answers in writing, and share them with the whole group. When everyone knows the rules, the lead guest is not left to explain them at 11 at night.

Where to find larger shortlets

There is no duplex filter, so start with three-bedroom shortlets in the area you want, then check the photos and description for a two-floor home.

Look for clues: photos of a staircase, and words such as “terrace”, “semi-detached”, “detached” or “BQ”. If you are not sure, ask the host how many floors the home has.

• Three-bedroom shortlets in Lekki
• Three-bedroom shortlets in Ikeja
• Three-bedroom shortlets in Abuja
• Three-bedroom shortlets in Magodo
• Three-bedroom shortlets in Gwarinpa

Find a shortlet you can book and compare the full bill for your group’s dates. Own a big home that sits empty between family visits? List your short let and let it to groups like yours.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

Duplexes in Nigeria · How long is a shortlet? · Serviced apartment vs hotel · Best areas for a shortlet in Lagos · Shortlets near Lagos airport