For Rent: The Lagos Housing Struggle

Living in Lagos is a whole experience on its own, fast-paced, noisy, and full of endless hustle. But one of the real struggles every Lagosian knows too well is house rent. Finding a place to live in this city can feel like chasing shadows. The prices are on another level, especially on the Island where rent can swallow an entire year’s salary in one gulp. Even on the mainland, where you think it should be cheaper, landlords and agents always find a way to add “agreement fee,” “caution fee,” “agent fee,” and sometimes even fees that sound like a joke. Before you know it, what looked like a manageable rent has doubled. Sometimes you meet good people and many times, you are met with people who just want to rip you of all the funds you have.

And it’s not just about money, you also have to worry about the environment, the kind of neighbors you’ll have, how reliable the water and electricity are, and if the road to your house won’t turn into a swimming pool once it rains. In Lagos, renting isn’t just about finding a roof over your head; it’s about survival, negotiation, and sometimes, pure luck.

As a person who lives in lagos, I will bring you the first hand experience you have been looking for, so stay with me and read this article to the end.

The rent culture in Lagos is honestly crazy, and the main reason is simple, Lagos is overpopulated. Everybody wants to move here because it is the land of opportunities. People come from other states hoping to hustle, grow, and make it in life, and that has only increased the population over the years. And you know how it is when demand is high, landlords automatically increase the price of their houses.

One thing I always tell people is that if you are going house hunting in Lagos, try to do it during the rainy season. Why? Because some of these houses are built in swampy areas, and you won’t know until rain falls and you see everywhere flooded. By then, you’ve already paid rent and moved in, and you’re stuck with the mess.

Another problem is how landlords build anyhow just to make money. Some can be so ridiculous that they put the kitchen and bathroom side by side because there is no space. No proper planning, no ventilation, nothing just “let me put something together so I can start collecting rent.” For them, it’s not about comfort or quality of life, it’s just about the money. I remember visiting a friend, and I wanted to use the toilet, he told me to enter from the kitchen and open the door at the far end, then boom it was the bathroom and toilet.

I’m honestly glad that my grandparents and parents own houses in Lagos, and from them I’ve learned one of the most important things to consider when renting a house, the kind of people that live in that environment. I remember when we used to visit my grandparents in Ajegunle when they were still alive. Anyone who knows Ajegunle knows it’s a rough area, more like a ghetto. If you’re born on the Island or you’re a soft boy or girl, getting a house there might not be good for you. You’d have to deal with hoodlums daily, crimes everywhere, and to make matters worse, the drainage system is terrible. Mosquitoes will finish you because the water in the area doesn’t flow properly.

So, yes, Lagos rent is expensive and stressful, but beyond the money, what really matters is the environment, the neighbors, and the hidden details you won’t notice unless you pay close attention. I would prefer people rent house in places like Ikeja GRA, Lekki, Ajah and the likes, but those places are very expensive, even in the expensive place, you still need to look our for things like this.

Thanks for reading. My name is Fashtioluwa.