Free Tenancy Agreement Template for Nigeria
A plain sample you can copy and adapt. General information, not legal advice.
Direct answer: A tenancy agreement for a Nigerian home should name the landlord and tenant, describe the property, state the term, the rent and how it is paid, the security deposit, each side's obligations, who does repairs, how the tenancy can end and the governing law, then be signed and witnessed. The sample below covers all of that. Copy it, fill in the brackets and have a lawyer review it before use.
The Template
Fill in the blanks directly below, they hold the same place as the [square brackets] in a plain copy of this template. This is a general residential sample for a fixed term such as a year, and a starting point you should change to fit your arrangement.
This runs in your browser. What you type here is never sent to Domby or saved, so it's gone if you leave the page, copy or print when you're done.
What Each Clause Is For
Parties and premises. Use full legal names and the exact address including the unit. A vague description is a common source of disputes. Term. State the start and end dates, not just "one year", so nobody has to work out the end date later.
Rent. Say how much, how often, by when and how it is paid, and commit to a receipt for each payment stating the period it covers. That last part protects both sides. Security deposit. State the amount, what it is for, and when it is refunded. Our guide to caution fees, agency fees and legal fees explains how these are usually handled.
Obligations and repairs. Listing what each side must do, and who fixes what, removes most arguments about leaking roofs and broken sockets. Rent review and renewal. Agreeing in writing before the new term avoids a rent increase surprise; see how to increase rent in Nigeria.
Ending the tenancy. The notice periods that apply depend on the type of tenancy and the state, and a landlord recovering a property generally has to follow a notice to quit and a seven day notice of intention to recover possession. Our notice to quit guide explains the general position. Signing. Both parties sign, ideally with a witness each, and each keeps a signed copy.
Before You Use It
A template is a starting point, not a substitute for advice. Tenancy rules differ between states, and some properties fall under different laws, so have a lawyer read the final version, especially for a long term, a high rent or a commercial use. If you want a lawyer to prepare it, our guide on how landlords create a tenancy agreement covers what to ask for and what it should include.
Generating It Automatically in Domby
Typing the same details into a template for every tenant is slow and easy to get wrong. On the Pro plan, Domby generates a tenancy agreement from each tenant's own record, filling the parties, the premises, the term, the rent, the deposit and the schedule for you, and you can set your own wording once and reuse it. The record of dates and payments stays in the same place, so you also know when each tenancy is ending.
FAQ
Yes. You can copy it, fill in the brackets and use it. It is a general sample, so adapt it to your arrangement and have a lawyer review it, especially for a long term or a high rent.
It is not always required for the agreement to be valid, but a lawyer helps you avoid mistakes, and using a lawyer is common practice. In Lagos, the Tenancy Law limits the legal fee for preparing an agreement to 10 percent of the annual rent.
The names of both parties, the property, the start and end dates, the rent and how it is paid, the security deposit, what each side must do, who does repairs, how the tenancy can end and which law applies, plus signatures and witnesses.
It is written for a residential tenancy. A shop or office needs different terms, such as permitted business use, so get a lawyer to adapt or prepare it.
On the Pro plan, yes. Domby generates a tenancy agreement from each tenant's record, and you can set your own wording once and reuse it.
Related guides
Related reading: how landlords create a tenancy agreement, what fees and deposits a landlord can charge and how much notice a landlord must give. See also how to screen a tenant before you sign this with them, and what service charge covers and who pays it. Browse all landlord guides.
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