List your shortlet where guests in your area already look, and where the rules on payment, cancellation and the caution deposit protect both you and your guests. A sensible mix is a platform for reach, social media for people who know you, and one link that sends every guest to the same place.
This guide compares the kinds of channel open to Nigerian hosts, without ranking anyone. Before you sign up anywhere, get the fees, the payment timing and the refund rules in writing.
What to look for in a platform
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who will see your listing | Guests search by area first. You want to appear where they search for your area. |
| How guests pay | Online payment through a trusted provider beats a transfer to a stranger, for both sides. |
| When and how you are paid | In naira, to your Nigerian account, by a date you know. |
| Every fee, in writing | Listing fees, commission and payment fees, and who pays each one. |
| Cancellations and refunds | Who sets the rules, who sends refunds, and how long they take. |
| The caution deposit | Who holds it, and who decides if something was damaged. |
| The calendar | Can you block dates, price busy days, and stop double bookings? |
| Guest checks and privacy | Can you ask for ID, and is it stored safely? |
| Help when things go wrong | Who you and the guest can contact about a problem. |
| Your control | Your price, your house rules, your check-in and check-out times. |
Classifieds and social media
Classified ad sites list everything from cars to flats. They reach a lot of people for little money. But they are built for enquiries, not bookings: there is no calendar and no protected payment. Scammers use them too, so some guests are wary.
Social media works well with people who already know you. Instagram shows off a flat in photos and short videos. WhatsApp status and groups reach friends, colleagues and past guests.
The weak points are the same on both:
- long chats that go nowhere;
- payment by transfer, which brings fake alerts;
- double bookings, when two chats end in the same dates;
- no fair way to settle a caution deposit argument.
Use them to bring guests in, then send every guest to one link. Our guide to advertising a shortlet apartment has tips for each channel.
Property listing sites
Property sites show shortlets next to homes for rent and sale, sorted by area. That matters, because guests search by place: “shortlet in Ikeja”, “shortlet in Lekki”, “shortlet in Abuja”. A listing on a site that ranks for your area puts you in front of guests who do not know you yet.
Some property sites are enquiry-only: the guest contacts you, and you arrange the rest. So ask how enquiries reach you, and how the site checks listings. Our guide to property listing websites in Nigeria explains what to compare.
Booking platforms
A booking platform lets guests pick dates and pay online, and it applies set rules to both sides. It does the hard work a website would need: calendars, holds, payments, refunds and deposits. In return, it charges a commission or fees and asks you to follow its rules.
Before you join one, check:
- which currency guests pay in, and which currency you are paid in;
- whether you choose your own cancellation time, or the platform sets it;
- who holds the caution deposit, and who decides damage claims;
- how the platform decides which listings guests see first.
Agents and property managers are another route. They bring guests or run the whole flat for a share of the income. Compare that with doing it yourself in management company or manage it yourself?
Using more than one channel safely
Listing in several places reaches more guests, but it adds work and risk. These habits keep it under control:
- Pick one calendar you trust. Treat it as the truth, and update it before anything else.
- Close dates everywhere at once. The moment a booking comes in from one channel, block those nights on every other channel before you reply to anyone new.
- Keep your prices in line. Guests compare. A much lower price in one place makes the others look wrong.
- Use the same photos and rules. Guests who find you twice should see the same flat, the same deposit and the same check-in time.
- Save ready-made replies for common questions: price, parking, power, check-in and visitors.
- Only accept payment you can see. Keys go to a guest once the money is really in your account or the booking is paid on a platform.
- Write down where each guest came from, so you know which channels are worth your time.
If this sounds like too much, use fewer channels and do each one well. Two channels you keep up to date beat five you forget.
Questions to ask any platform
Send these before you list. Keep the answers in writing.
- What does it cost to list, and what do you take from each booking?
- Is there a payment fee, and does the guest or the host pay it?
- When and how am I paid, and in which currency?
- Who sets the cancellation rules, and who sends refunds?
- How long does a refund take to reach a guest?
- Who holds the caution deposit, and how are damage claims decided?
- Can I close dates and set higher prices for busy days?
- Can I ask guests for ID, and how is it stored?
- Who can my guests and I contact when something goes wrong?
- Can I leave, and what happens to bookings I already have?
If a platform will not answer in writing, treat that as your answer. Watch for these warning signs too:
- a large fee up front, with no clear idea of what it buys;
- payouts only in cash, or from someone’s personal account;
- no way for a guest to report a problem during a stay;
- no live listings in your area, so no sign that guests look there.
A platform that is new to your area is not always bad. Just go in knowing that guests may take time to find you there. If you are still deciding whether to build your own site, read do you need your own shortlet website?
How Cabans works for hosts
Cabans is a Nigerian property site where guests search shortlets by area, from Lekki and Ikeja to Abuja and Port Harcourt. You list your home as a “Short Let” with photos, a price and your rules. The Cabans team reviews listings before guests see them.
With “Take bookings online” ticked, guests book and pay on your listing. Here are Cabans’ answers to the questions above:
| Question | On Cabans |
|---|---|
| What you pay | A 5% commission on each booking |
| The payment fee | Guests pay online through Paystack and pay Paystack’s fee themselves, shown before they pay |
| When you are paid | Within 7 days after the stay, and sooner when the guest approves the payment after their trip |
| Cancellations | You choose the free-cancellation time, from 24 hours to 30 days before check-in |
| Refunds | Sent by the Cabans team, within 14 days at most and usually in about 5 days |
| The caution deposit | Paid with the booking; you release it after check-out, or raise a dispute that the Cabans team decides |
| Calendar | Block dates, set prices for busy days, and choose instant book or accept each request |
| Guest ID | You can ask guests for ID and open it until 30 days after check-out; it is kept securely for up to 6 years, as data laws require, then deleted |
Cabans does not link to other calendars, so block nights you book elsewhere yourself. Follow how to make your short let bookable online to set it up.
Take bookings online with Cabans, then browse shortlets on Cabans to see how your listing will sit next to others in your area.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best shortlet platforms in Nigeria?
We do not rank other platforms. The best one for you is where guests in your area already look, with fees, payment timing, refunds and deposit rules you are happy with, all in writing. You can also use more than one channel.
Is it free to list a shortlet?
It depends on the platform. Some charge to list, some take a commission on each booking, and some add a payment fee for guests. Ask each one to put every fee in writing, and to say who pays it.
Can I list my shortlet on more than one platform?
Yes. The risk is a double booking. Keep one calendar you trust, and the moment a booking comes in from one channel, close those dates everywhere else before you reply to anyone new.
How do I avoid fake payment alerts?
Never hand over keys because of an alert, a screenshot or an SMS. Check that the money is in your account first. Better still, take payment through a platform, so the guest pays online and you never rely on an alert.
Should I use an agent or a property manager?
An agent can bring guests, and a manager can run the flat for you, both for a share of the income. It suits hosts who are busy or abroad. Agree the fees, who holds the money and who answers guests, in writing.
Which platform will get me the most bookings?
Nobody can promise that. Ask every guest how they found you, write it down, and review it each month. Then spend more time on the channels that bring paying guests, not just chats.
What does it cost to take shortlet bookings on Cabans?
Cabans charges hosts a 5% commission on each booking. The guest pays Paystack’s payment fee when they pay, so it does not come out of your earnings. You are paid within 7 days after the guest’s stay, and sooner when the guest approves the payment after their trip.
Related guides
Do you need your own shortlet website? · How to advertise a shortlet apartment · How to list a short let in Nigeria · Shortlet listing tips · How to start a shortlet business
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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