A shortlet agreement is a short, written set of terms between you and your guest. It covers the dates, the price, the caution deposit, cancellation, house rules and what happens if something goes wrong. You do not always need a separate signed contract. When guests book through a site that shows your terms before they pay, the booking page and your house rules do much of the job.
This guide is not legal advice. It explains what shortlet terms usually cover and gives plain-English example clauses. For a contract you will rely on, especially for long stays, ask a lawyer to review it.
Do you need a shortlet agreement?
It depends on how the guest books and how long they stay:
| Situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| A booking through a site that shows your terms before payment | Clear house rules and listing terms. A separate agreement is optional, and must not contradict the booking terms. |
| A direct booking by phone, WhatsApp or a repeat guest | Written terms sent before any money changes hands, and the guest’s written “I agree” |
| A stay of several months | A signed agreement, reviewed by a lawyer |
| A company booking for its staff | A signed agreement with the company, naming who will stay |
A shortlet agreement is not a tenancy agreement. A tenancy is for someone renting a home to live in, usually for a year or more. If that is what you need, read our guide to tenancy agreements in Nigeria instead.
What it usually covers
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Who and where | Your name, the lead guest’s name and the property address |
| Dates and times | Check-in date and time, check-out date and time |
| Guests | The most people who can sleep there, children included |
| Price | The total, what it includes (power, water, Wi-Fi, cleaning) and how it is paid |
| Caution deposit | The amount, what it covers, and when and how it is returned |
| Cancellation | Until when the guest can cancel, and how much comes back |
| House rules | Parties, visitors, noise, smoking, pets, estate rules |
| Power and utilities | Generator hours, who pays for extra fuel or electricity units |
| Damage | Reporting damage, and paying for what the guest breaks |
| Leaving early and staying longer | What happens to unused nights, and how to ask for more |
| Access | When you or your staff may enter, for example for urgent repairs |
| Check-out | Leaving time, returning keys, the check-out list |
Template clauses
Copy these, fill in the parts in [square brackets], and delete what you do not need. Keep the language plain, so every guest understands it.
- The booking. [Host name] lets [lead guest name] stay at [property address] from [check-in date] at [time] until [check-out date] at [time].
- Guests. No more than [number] people may sleep at the property, children included. Day visitors are [allowed until (time) / not allowed without the host’s written permission].
- Price. The total price is ₦[amount] for [number] nights. It includes [power for (hours) a day, water, Wi-Fi and one clean per week].
- Caution deposit. The guest pays a refundable caution deposit of ₦[amount]. The host returns it within [number] days after check-out, less the cost of any damage or loss the host can show with photos or receipts. Normal wear and tear is not deducted.
- Cancellation. The guest may cancel for a full refund until [date and time]. After that, [state what is refunded, if anything].
- House rules. No parties or events without the host’s written permission. Quiet hours are from [time] to [time]. No smoking indoors. [Add your estate’s rules.]
- Power and utilities. The generator runs from [time] to [time]. [The host / the guest] pays for extra fuel or electricity units.
- Damage. The guest tells the host about any damage or breakdown as soon as it happens. The guest pays for damage caused by anyone in their group.
- Leaving early. If the guest leaves before the last night, unused nights are not refunded unless the host agrees to a refund.
- Staying longer. The guest may ask to stay longer. Extra nights are only possible if the dates are free and the host agrees, and they are paid for before they start.
- Access. The host or their staff may enter for urgent repairs or safety, and will tell the guest first whenever possible.
- Check-out. The guest leaves by [time], returns all keys, and follows the check-out list in the home.
- Agreement. Signed or accepted in writing by the host and the lead guest on [date].
Keep your template short. A one- or two-page agreement that guests actually read protects you better than ten pages nobody opens. For a fuller set of rules to copy, use our shortlet house rules template.
Caution deposit terms
Arguments at the end of a shortlet stay are often about the caution deposit. Clear terms stop them before they start:
- A fixed amount, written in naira, not “to be agreed”.
- What it covers: damage, missing items and unpaid extras.
- What it does not cover: normal wear, such as a slightly worn towel.
- Evidence: you will show photos, and receipts or quotes, for anything you keep.
- Timing: when you will check the home and return the money.
Take dated photos of every room before the guest arrives and after they leave. Without them, it is your word against theirs.
On Cabans, you set the deposit on your listing as “Caution deposit (₦, fixed amount)”. Guests pay it once per stay and it is never discounted. After check-out you either release it in full, or raise a dispute with the amount you want to keep, what happened and your evidence. The Cabans team reads both sides and decides, and nothing is kept until they do. If you do neither, the guest can ask for it back from 14 days after check-out. See caution deposit protection for hosts.
Cancellation terms
Say plainly until when a guest can cancel, and what they get back. “Until 2 days before check-in, for a full refund” is clear. “Refunds at the host’s discretion” is not, and puts guests off.
Think about your own cancellations too. If you ever have to cancel, the fair thing is a full refund and as much notice as possible.
On Cabans, you choose one free-cancellation cut-off for each listing: 24 hours, or 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 14 or 30 days before check-in. Before it, a guest can cancel for a full refund of the nights, the cleaning fee and the caution deposit. There is no non-refundable option. A guest who books after the cut-off has passed cannot cancel, and sees that before paying. Refunds reach guests within 14 days at most, usually in about 5 days. See how to choose your free-cancellation time and our guide to shortlet cancellation policies.
Getting terms seen before payment
Terms only protect you if the guest saw them before paying. A rule sent after the booking is a surprise, and guests treat it as one.
- Direct bookings: send the terms first, then ask the guest to reply “I agree” in writing, by message or email, before you take any money.
- Your listing: put the rules that could change a guest’s mind in the description. The most guests, parties, smoking, ID and check-in times all belong there.
- In the home: leave a printed copy of the house rules and the check-out list where guests will see them.
On Cabans, guests see your check-in and check-out times, the minimum stay, the cleaning fee, the caution deposit and the free-cancellation deadline before they pay. They also see the full price, including Paystack’s processing fee, which the guest pays and which is not refunded. Your “House rules”, “Arrival and check-in instructions” and “Check-out checklist” live in “Stay information”, and guests see them on their stay page once the booking is confirmed. That is why the key rules belong in your description too.
You can also tick “Guests must upload an ID”. You can open a guest’s ID until 30 days after check-out. Guest ID documents are kept securely for up to 6 years, as data laws require, and then deleted. Cabans charges you a 5% commission, and you are paid within 7 days after the guest’s stay, or sooner when the guest approves the payment after their trip. See how to add house rules, arrival steps, door code and Wi-Fi, and how to ask guests for ID safely and fairly.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending the terms after payment. Guests only agreed to what they saw before paying.
- A vague deposit. “Refundable subject to inspection” says nothing about how much, what for or when.
- No guest limit. Without one, it is hard to object when eight people arrive for a two-bedroom flat.
- Nothing about power. Generator hours and fuel are a common cause of late-night calls.
- Copying a tenancy agreement. Yearly-rent terms such as notice periods and rent reviews do not fit a short stay.
Keep good records
Keep a copy of every agreement, the guest’s written “I agree”, your before-and-after photos, and receipts for any repairs. Store them until the deposit is settled and any question about the stay is closed. If a guest ever disputes what was agreed, these records are what you will rely on.
Put your terms to work
Take bookings online with your rules in the description, so guests know them before they book. To see how other hosts describe their homes, browse shortlets in Lagos or shortlets across Nigeria.
Frequently asked questions
Is a shortlet agreement a legal contract?
Written terms that a guest accepts before paying are the basis of your deal. Whether a particular document can be enforced depends on its wording and the facts, so ask a lawyer if you need certainty. This guide is not legal advice.
Do I need a lawyer to write a shortlet agreement?
Not for a simple set of house terms. For long stays, company bookings or a high-value home, it is worth paying a lawyer to review your template once, then reuse it.
What is the difference between a shortlet agreement and a tenancy agreement?
A shortlet agreement covers a short stay in a furnished home, paid by the night, week or month. A tenancy agreement covers renting a home to live in, usually for a year or more, with different rights on both sides.
Should the agreement say the caution deposit is refundable?
Yes. Say the amount, that it is refundable, what it can be used for, and when it will be returned. Clear deposit terms prevent many arguments at check-out.
Can I add a no-refund clause to my shortlet agreement?
For direct bookings you set your own terms, but a no-refund rule puts many guests off. If guests book through a website, the terms they accept there apply, so do not write different ones in your agreement.
Can I ask shortlet guests for ID?
Yes. Say so before the guest books, explain why, and keep any copy private and secure. Never share a guest’s ID with anyone who does not need it.
Related guides
Tenancy agreements in Nigeria · How to list a shortlet in Nigeria · Security deposits in Nigeria · Shortlet cleaning checklist · Shortlet listing tips
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