1. The “I’ll Pay Tomorrow” Tenant

“Tomorrow” is this tenant's favourite word.

The rent is due today, but somehow, tomorrow is always coming with the money.

Your landlord sends: “Good morning. Your rent is due.” 

The reply comes almost immediately: “Good morning, sir. I’ll sort it out tomorrow.”

Tomorrow arrives. Nothing.

Then another message: “Please, sir. Give me till Friday.”

At this point, Friday has become a family member.

This tenant may not necessarily be irresponsible. Sometimes, unexpected expenses happen. But constantly delaying rent payments can create unnecessary tension between you and your landlord.

If you are a tenant, plan your rent before the due date. Your tenancy agreement should clearly state when payments are expected and what happens if you delay.

If you know you may have difficulty paying on time, communicate early instead of disappearing.

Good communication can save you from receiving a landlord's “Good morning” message that suddenly feels like a court summons.

2. The Inspection Detective

This tenant does not simply inspect a house, they investigate it.

Before saying yes to an apartment, they check the water pressure, electrical sockets, ceilings, windows, drainage, doors, security and sometimes the network signal.

They will ask questions like: “Does water run every day?” “What happens when it rains?” “Is there light?” “How much is the service charge?” “Who manages the waste?” “Is there a security guard?” And just when you think the inspection is over, they ask: “Can I see the backyard?”

Honestly, this tenant may look like they are doing too much, but they are actually doing something smart.

Before renting a property, inspect it properly. Don't allow beautiful tiles, a fancy kitchen or a nice compound to distract you from important details.

Ask questions about the tenant and landlord agreement, service charges, utilities, repairs and other costs.

You have every reason to understand what you are paying for before you commit.

3. The “Anything Goes” Tenant

For this tenant, the requirements are simple:

A roof? Yes.

A door? Yes.

A place to charge the phone? Yes. Perfect.

Show them an apartment with questionable plumbing and they will say:

“No problem. We can manage it.”

Show them a room with poor ventilation and they will say:

“At least there is a window.”

The problem is that “managing it” can become very expensive later.

You may overlook a leaking ceiling today and end up spending money on repairs tomorrow.

Being flexible is good, but don't ignore serious problems just because the rent looks affordable.

Before renting, check the property's condition, water supply, electricity, drainage, security and general environment.

Your tenant rights in Nigeria also matter, but your responsibilities as a tenant matter too.

A cheap apartment is not always a good deal if you spend the rest of your tenancy repairing what you should have noticed before moving in.

4. The Decoration Minister

This tenant has barely collected the keys, but Pinterest has already been opened.

Curtains? Ordered.

Wall frames? Coming.

LED lights? Installed.

New rug? On the way.

The house has not even had its first full week of occupancy, but this tenant is already planning a complete transformation.

There is nothing wrong with making your home comfortable. The problem starts when you begin drilling holes, changing fixtures or repainting without checking what your apartment rules and regulations for tenants allow.

Before making major changes to a rented property, check your tenancy agreement and speak with your landlord.

Some landlords may allow certain changes while others may require you to return the property to its original condition when you leave.

Make your house beautiful but make sure your decoration does not become your landlord's next headache.

5. The Landlord's Best Friend

This tenant knows everything about the landlord.

“Landlord's birthday is next month.” “His daughter just graduated.” “His wife travelled last week.”

At this point, you are no longer sure whether the person rents the apartment or works for the landlord.

But there is actually something valuable about having a good relationship with your landlord.

Good communication can make it easier to report problems, clarify responsibilities and resolve disagreements.

You don't have to become your landlord's best friend, but maintaining a respectful relationship can make your tenancy easier.

Understand your tenant and landlord agreement, follow the agreed rules and communicate when there is a problem.

Respect should work both ways.

A landlord should respect the tenant's rights, while the tenant should also respect the house rules for tenants renting a room or occupying the property.

6. The “Call the Agent” Tenant

The kitchen tap is leaking? “Call the agent.”

The light bulb stops working? “Call the agent.”

The toilet is blocked because you flushed something that clearly should not have been flushed? “Call the agent.”

This tenant believes the agent is the emergency department for every problem.

But agents, landlords and tenants can have different responsibilities.

Understand who is responsible for what before you move into a property.

Your tenancy agreement should help explain responsibilities for repairs, maintenance and other issues.

If something goes wrong, report it properly instead of assuming someone else will automatically pay for it.

And please, before calling the agent at 11:47 p.m. because your phone charger stopped working, check if the problem is actually the property.

7. The DIY Engineer

This tenant believes YouTube University has prepared them for everything.

The tap is leaking? “No need to call anybody.”

The socket is faulty? “I've watched a video.”

The door is making noise? “Give me five minutes.”

Five minutes later, the problem now needs three professionals.

The attempt to save ₦5,000 has somehow created a ₦50,000 problem.

Not every repair is a DIY project.

For serious electrical, plumbing, structural or safety problems, contact the appropriate professional and notify your landlord or property manager where necessary.

Following the tenant rules and regulations of your property also helps you avoid making changes that could damage the house.

Sometimes the smartest repair is knowing when to put the screwdriver down.

8. The Neighbourhood FBI

This tenant does not inspect only the house, they investigate the entire neighbourhood.

Before moving in, they have spoken to the security guard, the woman selling food, the neighbour next door, the mechanic down the street and possibly someone's auntie three houses away.

They want to know: “Does this place flood?” “How safe is it at night?” “How is the electricity?” “Is there a water problem?” “Is the landlord nice?” “What happened to the last tenant?”

And honestly, this tenant may be onto something.

Your house is important, but your neighbourhood matters too.

Before renting, research the area and visit at different times of the day if possible.

Check accessibility, security, drainage, noise, water supply and nearby facilities.

A beautiful apartment in a difficult location can quickly become a stressful home.

So, yes, conduct your small investigation, just don't start requesting people's fingerprints.

9. The House-Hunting Romantic

This tenant falls in love quickly. They see a beautiful apartment online. The tiles are shiny, the kitchen is beautiful, the lighting is perfect, the compound looks amazing.

They immediately say: “This is my house!”

They have already started imagining where the sofa will go before asking how much the total package costs. Then reality arrives. Agency fee, legal fee, service charge, caution fee, agreement fee, etc.

And suddenly the beautiful apartment has become a financial heartbreak.

Don't let your emotions make your rental decision for you.

Before paying for a property, ask for a complete breakdown of the costs and understand the tenancy agreement.

Check the property physically, ask questions and make sure you can comfortably afford the total package, not just the advertised rent.

A house can be beautiful without being financially suitable for you.

10. The Smart Tenant

Finally, we have the tenant everyone should try to become.

The smart tenant does not rush, rather they inspect the property, ask questions, understand the rent and additional charges, they read the tenancy agreement before signing, they understand their responsibilities, they know their tenants' rights in Nigeria, they respect the apartment rules and regulations for tenants, they communicate with their landlord when problems arise, and most importantly, they don't pay money simply because someone says:

“If you don't pay today, somebody else will take it.”

The smart tenant takes time to verify the property, understand the costs and make an informed decision.

Being a smart tenant doesn't mean being difficult.

It means knowing what you are paying for, understanding the rules and protecting yourself from avoidable problems.

Your goal should be to have a healthy tenant and landlord agreement where both parties understand their rights and responsibilities.

Which Type of Nigerian Tenant Are You?

From the “I'll pay tomorrow” tenant to the neighbourhood FBI, renting a house comes with different personalities and you may have recognised yourself somewhere on this list.

But if there is one tenant type you should aim to become, it is the smart tenant.

Before you rent, inspect the property, understand the costs, read your tenancy agreement, ask questions and make sure the property fits your needs and budget.

And when you're ready to start looking for your next home, Realestway can help you explore available property listings and find apartments that match what you are looking for.

Because finding a house should not be a case of “anywhere I see, I enter.”

Find the right property, understand what you are signing up for, and make a decision you will be happy with long after you collect the keys.

Now, be honest; Which type of Nigerian tenant are you?