The easiest place to stay while you house-hunt in Lagos is a furnished shortlet or serviced apartment, booked for a few weeks near the areas you want to live in. It gives you a bed, a kitchen and a base for viewings. You do not have to sign a yearly lease before you know the city.
Finding the right home can take longer than you plan. Viewings get moved, some flats do not match their adverts, and paperwork takes time. This guide helps you plan your stay around all of that.
How long to book for
Work backwards from the day you want to move in. A house hunt in Lagos usually has five stages, and each one can take longer than you hope:
| Stage | What happens | What can slow it down |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Looking | You search, call agents and book viewings | Adverts for flats that are already gone; agents who reschedule |
| 2. Viewing | You inspect flats in person, at different times of day | Traffic between areas; flats that look nothing like the photos |
| 3. Deciding | You negotiate and check the paperwork | Another tenant moving faster; a landlord who is slow to reply |
| 4. Paying | You pay rent, fees and the caution deposit, and sign | Bank limits on large transfers; waiting for a signed agreement |
| 5. Getting ready | Painting, cleaning, repairs and moving your things | Work that runs late; furniture delivery |
Add up what you expect for each stage, then add a few spare days. If you have not seen Lagos before, book a little longer than you think. It is easier to leave on time than to find a new place at short notice.
You can speed up the paperwork stage by having your documents ready before you arrive. Landlords and agents often ask for a valid ID, a letter from your employer or proof of income, and sometimes a reference. Scan them onto your phone so you can send them on the day you find the right flat.
Before you book, ask the host two things. Could you stay longer if you need to? And what happens if you leave early? The answers matter more on a house-hunting stay than on a holiday.
Where to base yourself
Stay close to where you will be looking. Lagos traffic can turn a short trip into a long one, and you may have three or four viewings in a day. A base on the right side of the city saves you hours.
| If you are looking in… | Think about staying in… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lekki, Ajah, Victoria Island or Ikoyi | Lekki or Lekki Phase 1 | Viewings along the Island and the Lekki corridor are close by |
| Yaba, Surulere or Ebute Metta | Yaba or Surulere | A central Mainland base with many rental areas nearby |
| Ikeja, Maryland, Ogba or Magodo | Ikeja | Close to the airport and to Mainland offices |
| Gbagada, Anthony or Ilupeju | Gbagada | Handy for the middle of the Mainland |
Not sure which part of Lagos suits you? Pick a base between your two best options, and visit each area on a weekday and at the weekend. Go in the morning rush and after dark too. Check the roads, the power, the water and whether the street floods when it rains. Our guide to relocating to Lagos compares the main areas for work, schools and daily life.
Furnished shortlet or serviced apartment?
Both work well for a house hunt. The difference is how much is done for you.
- A furnished shortlet is a whole flat or house, let by the night, the week or the month. You look after yourself, cook in your own kitchen and keep your own hours.
- A serviced apartment is a furnished flat with services added, such as regular cleaning, and often a building with security and backup power. It suits people who are busy all day and want less to think about.
A “furnished apartment for rent” is something else again. It is usually a long let, paid a year at a time, with agency and legal fees. That can be your new home, but it is not temporary accommodation.
What to look for when you will stay for weeks:
- A working kitchen, so you are not paying for every meal.
- Reliable power and Wi-Fi, if you work from the flat. Ask how many hours of power there are and who pays for fuel.
- A washing machine, or a laundry service nearby.
- Somewhere safe to park, if you are driving to viewings.
- A desk or table for forms, calls and video meetings.
You can compare serviced apartments in Lagos with ordinary shortlets in the same area. Our guide to serviced apartments vs hotels explains the trade-offs in more detail.
Changing dates when plans move
House hunts rarely finish exactly on time. You may find a flat early, or the painters may need an extra week. Plan for both.
- Know your cancellation terms. Find out until when you can cancel for a full refund, and what happens after that.
- Ask about staying longer early. Another guest may book the nights after yours. The sooner you ask, the more likely the dates are still free.
- Ask about leaving early. Nights you do not use are often not refunded. Get the answer before you book, not on the day you move out.
- Get every change in writing, with the new dates and the new total.
On Cabans, you can change a booking from your stay page before you arrive. Press “Change dates or guests”. A shorter stay inside your current dates, made before your free-cancellation deadline, applies straight away, and the difference is refunded to you. Longer stays and other dates need the host to accept. If the new dates cost more, you pay the extra on an invoice once the change is made.
Already checked in and need more nights? Ask your host to extend your stay. The host must approve it and the extra dates must be free. You pay for the extra nights online through Paystack, and Paystack’s fee is shown before you pay. If you leave early instead, the unused nights are not refunded unless the host approves a refund. Refunds reach you within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days. See how to change your dates or number of guests and how to extend a shortlet stay.
Keeping costs down over weeks
A stay of several weeks adds up. These habits make the biggest difference:
- Book the whole stay at once. Some hosts give a discount for a week or a month, or a free night after a set number of nights. Several short bookings miss out on that.
- Watch the one-off fees. A cleaning fee is usually charged once per stay, so it costs less per night on a long booking.
- Cook most meals. A kitchen is the biggest saving a shortlet has over a hotel.
- Ask what is included. Power hours, fuel for the generator, water, Wi-Fi and cleaning can all change the real cost.
- Choose the right side of town. A cheaper flat far from your viewings can cost more in ride fares and lost time.
- Remember the caution deposit. It is your money, held in case of damage. Leave the flat as you found it and you should get it back.
Planning a month or more? See monthly shortlets in Lagos.
Staying safe while you search
House hunting is when people are most at risk of rent scams. Never pay rent, an “inspection fee” or a deposit for a flat you have not seen in person. Check that the person you pay has the right to let the flat. Our guides to avoiding property scams and the property inspection checklist will help.
Budget for the full move-in bill as well as the rent. Agency, legal and caution fees are explained in move-in costs when renting in Nigeria. When you are ready, search flats for rent in Lekki, Yaba or Ikeja.
Find your base
Find a shortlet you can book and pick one near where you will be looking. Moving on and leaving a furnished flat behind? You can list your short let on Cabans and let it to the next person who is house-hunting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best temporary accommodation while house-hunting in Lagos?
For most people it is a furnished shortlet or a serviced apartment, booked for a few weeks close to the areas you want to live in. You get a kitchen, a bed and a base for viewings, without signing a yearly lease first.
How long should I book a shortlet for while I look for a home?
Book long enough for viewings, paperwork, paying and getting the new place ready, then add a few spare days. If you are not sure, ask the host before you book whether you could stay longer, and on what terms.
Is a furnished apartment for rent the same as a shortlet?
No. A furnished apartment for rent is usually a long let, paid a year at a time, with agency and legal fees on top. A shortlet is paid by the night, the week or the month, and you can leave at the end of your booking.
Can I extend my shortlet if I have not found a home yet?
Only if the host agrees and the extra dates are still free. Ask as early as you can, before another guest books the nights after yours.
Is a monthly shortlet cheaper than a hotel?
For stays of several weeks it often is. Some hosts give a discount for longer stays, and a kitchen means you are not paying for every meal. Compare the full bill for your dates, not the night price.
Should I pay rent for a flat before I have inspected it?
No. Inspect the flat in person, check who owns it, and read the agreement before you pay anything. Never pay an “inspection fee” or a deposit to hold a flat you have not seen.
Related guides
Relocating to Lagos · How long is a shortlet? · Serviced apartment vs hotel · Best areas for a shortlet in Lagos · Move-in costs in Nigeria
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