When you become a part of the private rented sector for the first time, there are a number of things you have to consider to ensure you are not cheated and that you’re in a secure and safe tenancy. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 6 things you as a first time renter should consider before renting an apartment.

Tenancy Contracts

Though they tend to be long, confusing and full of legal jargon, it is important to avoid the temptation of just skipping to the end and signing it without reading. A tenancy contract is a legally binding document that mandates your landlord to do certain things that you definitely should be aware of to avoid being taken by a rude surprise.

Upfront Costs

It’s easy for first-time renters to forget that aside monthly or yearly rent, there are also upfront costs of renting an apartment and you’ll almost always have to complete the payment of the costs before you can move into the apartment. You should prepare and plan ahead for these costs to avoid a rude shock in this area.

Long Term Costs

Aside monthly or yearly rent, there are other utility payments like electricity, water etc. that you have to consider. You need to be sure if certain utilities are covered by your rent and provided for or if you will have to either source for them or pay for them.

Take a Meter Reading Before Signing on the Dotted Line

Landlords are fond of passing on previous electricity bills to new and unsuspecting tenants. Ensure you are not a victim of this by taking a meter reading of the electricity meter when you come to inspect the house. You can also request to see evidence that electricity bills have been paid to date and there are no outstanding bills left for you to shoulder. Please ensure you do this to avoid being charged by PHCN for electricity previous tenants used.

Safety and Appearance of the Neighbourhood

Many first-time renters often get carried away with the excitement of renting their first apartment and forget to assess the safety of the neighbourhood their renting the apartment in. Please ensure you do not make this mistake. Landlords will hardly be truthful or sincere about the safety of the neighbourhood of their apartments, so you have to ask around and make necessary enquiries. You can talk to one or two people who live and work around the area to get information about what the area is really like.

Accessibility

Try to get an apartment that has an easy or relatively easy access to public transportation, provision stores, medical facilities or anything else you consider important to your living situation. This will help make life in the apartment easier for you.

http://fabinfos.com/things-consider-renting-apartment-first-time/

Noted.

and if you are a bachelor like me.

Do findings about how many daughter your landlord or landlady have so you can impregnate one, one day and thereby you stop paying house rent.

dat is what I had in plan for kikelomo my landlord's daughter

Nice info! Thanks

Good one. Also enquire about neighbours and their attitudes. Some neighbours are just too loud to live with, such humans ought to live on an island alone.

On point

watch out for natural disasters such as flooding

Cool

vizkiz:
Ask people staying around to give you a Lil info about that residence.

This is very useful

true.....that was how I rented a house at around ajah thinking the power supply there is very good until I discovered that light at that place is bad....I was fooled when I came to check the house twice before renting it and on those two occasions there was light so I fell for it...

House hunt during the rainy season and ask artisans and small business owners for power supply and security in the area.

Hotshawarma:
true.....that was how I rented a house at around ajah thinking the power supply there is very good until I discovered that light at that place is bad....I was fooled when I came to check the house twice before renting it and on those two occasions there was light so I fell for it...

Similar thing happened to me bro. I saw a vacant apartment and quickly rented it at the speed of light without thorough enquires from people living around, unknown to me that that particular street had cable problems that has not been replaced for a few years. NEPA no come dey reason our matter again

You know that feeling when light dey other people street but your own street just dey stranded

tosyne2much:
Similar thing happened to me bro. I saw a vacant apartment and quickly rented it at the speed of light within thorough enquires from people living around, unknown to me that that particular street had cable problems that has not replaced for a few years

You know that feeling when there is electricity in other streets but your own street no get light

na that one dey pain pass,e go com be like say at that period the light stable generally u go com dey look am dey vex say why ur own street no get light when light dey very stable

ok

Hotshawarma:
na that one dey pain pass,e go com be like say at that period the light stable generally u go com dey look am dey vex say why ur own street no get light when light dey very stable

I dey tell you baba

holatin:
and if you are a bachelor like me.

Do findings about how many daughter your landlord or landlady have so you can impregnate one, one day and thereby you stop paying house rent.

dat is what I had in plan for kikelomo my landlord's daughter

Badt man things, No dulling!

Good tips

Be sure you are at least 15 houses away from any church, mosque or bar. Thank me later

Very true

Wish someone advised me before i rented... u learn everyday yea?

holatin:
and if you are a bachelor like me.

Do findings about how many daughter your landlord or landlady have so you can impregnate one, one day and thereby you stop paying house rent.

dat is what I had in plan for kikelomo my landlord's daughter

Speak out your plan

when desperate you tends to skip all that

MOST OF SUCH ARE IN SUCH A HURRY AND FORGET TO RUN A BACKGROUND CHECK ON THOSE ISSUES .

for more information ask Lia R. Mohammed

Good one OP, it's also important to find out if someone was buried in any room from neighbours because Na so I see one fine one bed room flat wen I like, I come ask how much? The lady say make I no live there o say Dem bury the owner there about five months ago a young man of about 35 years old because Na Dem tradition... If u see how I run, make God help person

nice

Meter reading VERY IMPORTANT
Especially in abuja!!!
In fact don't collect house with no prepaid meter.

I am searching for an apartment now and lagos agents are chasing me. I tire.

Please I intend to rent an apartment soon. It's my first time and the house I've found is still new. Can anyone give me a rough estimate of moderately furnishing a one-bedroom flat( a room and parlour). I'm in Owerri, Imo state