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The short answer
To rent out a Lagos flat from Ghana, appoint an estate agent or property manager under a written contract, let the flat on a written tenancy that follows the Lagos Tenancy Law 2011, and have rent paid directly into your own account rather than the manager's. Outside the exempt areas, the Law limits rent in advance from a new tenant to one year and requires a receipt for every payment.
A flat in Lagos can earn steady rent while you work in Accra, but only if someone on the ground handles viewings, repairs and problems, and the paperwork protects you when you are not there to argue your case. The Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 sets several rules that apply whether you are in Lekki or in Legon.
Choose who manages the flat
- Estate agent
- Finds the tenant and handles the letting. Agree in writing what the fee is and when it is paid.
- Property manager
- Runs the tenancy day to day: rent reminders, repairs, inspections. Agree a monthly or percentage fee and a spending limit for repairs without your approval.
- Relative or caretaker
- Cheaper, but put the arrangement in writing as you would with a professional, and do not let rent pass through their personal account.
Check the manager as carefully as you would a lawyer: independent references, a visit to their office by someone you trust, and a written contract that says they cannot sign tenancies or receive rent for you without your written approval.
What the Lagos Tenancy Law requires
The Law applies to all premises in Lagos, including business premises, but section 1(3) exempts Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, and the Governor may exempt others. Lekki is not on the list. Outside the exempt areas:
- Rent in advance (s.4). A landlord may not demand or receive more than six months' rent in advance from a monthly sitting tenant, or more than one year from a yearly sitting tenant or a new tenant. A tenant who offers or pays more also breaks the law; the penalty is a fine of ₦100,000 or three months' imprisonment.
- Receipts (s.5). Every rent payment needs a receipt showing the date, names and addresses, the premises, the amount and the period. Failing to issue one carries a ₦100,000 fine.
- Deposits and service charges (s.10). These need separate receipts, and the landlord must give a written account at least every six months.
- Notice (s.13). Where the agreement is silent: one week for a tenancy at will, one month for monthly, three months for quarterly or half-yearly, and six months for a yearly tenancy.
The Law is explained in full in the Nigeria library: Lagos Tenancy Law: rent advance, receipts and notice to quit.
The tenancy agreement
A tenancy can be oral or written under section 3, but from Ghana you need it in writing. Ask a Lagos lawyer to prepare it, covering rent, term, who pays which bills and service charges, repairs (the Law's default covenants in sections 7 and 8 apply unless the agreement says otherwise), subletting, and how notices are served on you. The Law's service rules in section 18 focus on serving the tenant; agree in the contract that notices to you go to your manager or lawyer and by email.
Collecting rent from Ghana
- Ask the tenant to pay directly into a Nigerian account in your name, never the manager's personal account.
- Issue a receipt for every payment, as section 5 requires, and keep copies.
- Ask the manager for a monthly statement of repairs and spending with receipts.
- Arrange an inspection at least twice a year, with photographs.
- If you need the money in Ghana, decide when to convert; check the transfer fee, the exchange rate margin, speed and limits first.
A worked example
Example only: a new tenant agrees ₦3,600,000 a year. Under section 4 you may take at most one year in advance, so ₦3,600,000. If the manager charges an assumed 10% of rent collected, that is ₦360,000, leaving ₦3,240,000 before repairs, service charges and tax. A separate caution deposit of, say, ₦300,000 needs its own receipt and an account at least every six months.
If things go wrong
Under section 13 a monthly tenancy lapses after six months' arrears and longer tenancies after a year, and the court may order possession and arrears. Recovery goes through the Lagos courts with prescribed notices, so you need a Lagos lawyer; you cannot lawfully change the locks from Accra. Tax on rent may arise in Nigeria and in Ghana; see Ghana tax on Nigerian rental income. This is information, not advice.
Where Pryme fits
Rent can be paid into your Pryme naira account, and you can issue tenants a verifiable receipt through our partnership with VerifyDoc.ai, which helps you meet the receipt rule and gives both sides a record. A Personal Assistant can remind you of rent dates; nothing moves without your approval. See receipts and Personal Assistant.
Questions people ask
How much rent in advance can I collect in Lagos?
Outside the exempt areas, at most one year from a new tenant, and six months from a monthly sitting tenant, under section 4 of the Lagos Tenancy Law 2011.
Does the Lagos Tenancy Law apply in Lekki?
Yes. The exempt areas in section 1(3) are Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island; Lekki is not listed.
Can my agent collect rent for me?
Yes, but it is safer to have tenants pay into an account in your name and to give your agent written limits.
How do I evict a tenant in Lagos from abroad?
Through a Lagos lawyer, using the notices and court process in the Tenancy Law. Self-help eviction is not lawful.
Sources
- Lagos State Tenancy Law No. 14 of 2011 (Policy Vault copy) · accessed Oct 2026
- Ownkey: How to verify a Nigerian lawyer is legitimate from abroad (8 Aug 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.