Renting Safely in Nigeria: How to Avoid Rental Fraud

So, what exactly is rental fraud? Rental fraud occurs when would-be tenants are conned into paying an upfront fee to rent a property. In reality, the property does not actually exist, it may have already been rented out, or it has been rented to multiple victims all at the same time...

In these scenarios, the victim loses the upfront fee they have paid and is not able to rent the property they thought they had secured with the payment, leaving them in very many cases homeless as they would have served notice on their existing property or even moved out already, leaving them with nowhere to live at least in the short term!

Please take a moment to take a look at the pointers below to help you to be safe and secure in your rental property searches and transactions.

• Always ensure that you visit, see and view (i.e. inspect) the property you are interested in and have met the landlord or letting agent before paying or parting with any money. If you are unable to visit and view the property or meet with the landlord/letting agent, kindly ask someone you trust to do so on your behalf.

• Always use the facilities provided by PropertyLocationsNigeria to contact the advertiser. So when enquiring about a property you have seen and are interested in on PropertyLocationsNigeria, to email the advertiser, always use the 'Request Details' button.
• To call the advertiser, you should always use the telephone number provided on PropertyLocationsNigeria.
• Both the email of the advertiser and the phone number will be directly next to or below the property. The 'Request Details' button will open the PropertyLocationsNigeria 'Request Property Details' form.

• It is a known fact that vendors and landlords will always price according to the competition in the local market so if the rent of a property looks too good to be true, it probably is.
• So, if a property is offered at a much cheaper rent than expected, ask yourself why. Is it because there is some issue with the property that is not being disclosed or...? If you really like the property, then get trusted tradesmen (depending on what may be wrong with the property) to come and check the property out and give opinions or make recommendations.
• Remember, sometimes, it is always better to trust your instincts in situations like these and walk away...

• Be wary and sceptical of upfront requests for money or payments or any requests asking for personal details. Also beware of any sense of utmost urgency on an advert or when you contact the agent... Do not be pressurised into transferring large sums of money. Be especially sceptical if you're asked to transfer any money via a money transfer service like Western Union or Moneygram.
• Do not send money to anyone until you are certain the advertiser is genuine. If in any doubt, contact the company you believe you are transferring money to, or your bank.

• Always make sure you see relevant and genuine paperwork before you commit to a decision. Always endeavour to use a lawyer or other qualified agent to complete the transaction (whether sale or rent) on your behalf so as to ensure that the necessary due diligence has been carried out.
• Note also that the more you respect your buyers, the more your property is likely to appeal to them and in turn they will be willing to pay the best possible price.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can I avoid rental scams in Nigeria?

• Always view the property, meet the landlord, verify documents, and avoid urgent payment requests.

Is it safe to pay rent before seeing the property?

• No. Never pay before inspecting the property or sending someone you trust.

How do I know if an advert is genuine?

• Use the official contact options on PropertyLocationsNigeria — the Request Details button and the phone number displayed on the listing.