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The short answer
Pay the landlord or agent directly, against a written tenancy, after checking the account name the bank shows, and get a receipt each time. Where the Lagos Tenancy Law 2011 applies, a landlord must not demand more than one year's rent in advance from a new tenant and must issue a rent receipt.
Paying a parent's, sibling's or cousin's rent in Lagos is one of the most common ways Nigerians in the UK support family at home, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Rent is usually large, often paid a year at a time, and the money can pass through several hands before it reaches the landlord. The safest approach is to pay the landlord or agent directly, against a written tenancy, and to get a proper receipt every time. This guide explains how, and what Lagos law says about advance rent and receipts.
What Lagos law says about advance rent
The Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 covers most premises in the state. Its section 1(3) exempts Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, and lets the Governor exempt other areas by order, so check whether the property's area is covered.
Where the Law applies, section 4 says:
- A landlord or agent must not demand more than six months' rent in advance from a sitting tenant on a monthly tenancy, or more than one year from a sitting tenant on a yearly tenancy.
- A landlord or agent must not demand more than one year's rent in advance from a new or would-be tenant.
- It is also unlawful for a tenant to offer or pay more than these amounts.
- The penalty on conviction is a fine of ₦100,000 or three months' imprisonment.
A draft Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill was introduced in the Lagos State House of Assembly in July 2025 to replace the 2011 Law; a September 2025 review by OAL described it as a draft and did not report it as passed. Check its status before relying on either text. For a fuller explanation, see the Lagos Tenancy Law on rent advance, receipts and notice.
Pay the landlord directly
Sending the rent to the relative and asking them to pass it on is simple, but it leaves you with no proof that the landlord was paid, and it puts pressure on the relative if the money is needed for something else first. Paying the landlord or agent directly gives a clear record.
- Get the tenancy agreement. Ask for a copy showing the landlord's name, the tenant's name, the address, the rent and the period.
- Get the landlord's or agent's bank details in writing, ideally on the agreement or a signed letter. Be wary of details sent only by WhatsApp from a new number.
- Check the account name the Nigerian bank shows before you send. It should match the landlord, the agent's firm or the estate management company.
- Use a clear reference: the address and the rent period.
- Ask for a receipt the same week.
Receipts: what the landlord must give
Section 5 of the Tenancy Law says a landlord is obliged to issue a receipt whenever rent is paid, showing the date of payment, the names and addresses of landlord and tenant, a description and location of the premises, the amount paid and the period covered. Failing to issue one carries a fine of ₦100,000 on conviction. Section 10 says that security deposits, service charges and charges for facilities need a separate receipt, and that the tenant is entitled to a written account of how that money was spent at least every six months.
For what a good receipt looks like, see a rent receipt template.
A worked example
Example only. A cousin is a new tenant in a flat in Yaba with an example rent of ₦3,000,000 a year, plus a service charge of ₦400,000. The landlord asks for two years in advance.
- Under section 4(3), a landlord should not demand more than one year from a new tenant, so the lawful maximum advance here is ₦3,000,000.
- The service charge of ₦400,000 should get its own receipt under section 10.
- Total first payment: ₦3,000,000 + ₦400,000 = ₦3,400,000, in two receipted amounts.
Many tenants agree to pay more than the Law allows because they want the flat. Knowing the rule helps you negotiate, and the receipt protects your relative if there is a dispute later.
Rent versus the owner's charges
Some charges belong to the owner, not the tenant. Land Use Charge, for example, is payable by the owner whether the property is let or owner-occupied, according to an Ownkey guide from June 2026. If you are asked to pay it as part of rent, ask why.
Where Pryme fits
From a Pryme Personal Account you can convert pounds to naira with Swap when you choose and send the rent straight to the landlord's account; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. You can also generate a verifiable receipt for the payment through our partner VerifyDoc.ai, which helps if the landlord's own receipt is slow to arrive. For other family housing costs, see paying family bills directly.
Questions people ask
Can a Lagos landlord ask for two years' rent upfront?
Where the Tenancy Law 2011 applies, section 4 says a landlord must not demand more than one year in advance from a new tenant. Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island are exempt.
Must a Lagos landlord give a rent receipt?
Yes. Section 5 says the landlord must issue a receipt each time rent is paid, with set details, and failure carries a fine of ₦100,000 on conviction.
Should I send rent to my relative or the landlord?
Paying the landlord or agent directly, after checking the account name, gives you proof the rent was paid.
Has the new Lagos tenancy bill become law?
A draft bill was introduced in July 2025. A September 2025 review described it as a draft. Check its current status before relying on it.
Sources
- Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 (Law No. 14 of 2011), gazetted text · accessed Oct 2026
- OAL: Review of the Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Draft Bill, 2025 (8 Sep 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ownkey: Land Use Charge in Lagos, a guide (16 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.