06/05/2026
I’ll be honest, this one shook me.
A young guy came to inspect one of my mini-flats. Calm, respectful, well-dressed. Spoke good English. Even dropped a few “Sir, God bless you” here and there. You know that type that already passes your “tenant vibe check.”
He didn’t waste time. He paid for inspection, came back with full rent, and submitted his tenancy form neatly filled. Guarantor details were complete. Place of work sounded like a solid company. Job description looked impressive.
Normally, that’s where many of us landlords in Lagos relax.
But something in me said, “Check this properly.”
I started small and called the guarantor’s number.
Switched off.
I tried again later, same thing.
Then I checked the company name he wrote. No online presence, no office address that made sense. I even sent someone to the location he listed, nothing there. Just a random building with no such company.
At that point, I dug deeper.
Everything was fake.
The guarantor was a fake identity.
The workplace did not exist.
The job was a fabricated story.
And this guy was ready to move in within 48 hours.
Now imagine if I had done what many of us do.
“Ah, he has paid. Let him move in.”
That’s how problems enter your compound wearing perfume.
The truth is, many Lagos landlords treat tenancy forms like mere formality. Something to just complete the file.
We don’t verify.
We don’t call.
We don’t cross-check.
We just collect money and move on.
Until one day:
Rent stops coming
Neighbours start complaining
Or worse, the tenant disappears overnight
And when you now reach for the guarantor form, everything on it is fiction.
Let me say this clearly.
Your tenancy form is not paperwork.
It is your first line of defense.
If you ignore it, you are basically running your property on vibes and prayers.
What should we be doing instead?
Call the guarantor immediately and not just once. Have a real conversation. Ask questions that confirm relationship and accountability.
Verify the workplace. A simple online search, a visit, or even asking for a work ID can save you months of stress.
Pay attention to inconsistencies. If something feels too perfect or too rushed, slow it down.
And most importantly, don’t let urgency for rent blind you.
Because the wrong tenant will cost you far more than one month of vacancy ever will.
Lagos is not as forgiving as it used to be.
People are getting smarter with deception, and landlords must get smarter with verification.
That nice, respectful tenant might be real.
Or might just be very well rehearsed.
The difference is in whether you check.
Tell me honestly, how many of us actually verify guarantor forms before handing over keys?
