Tenancy Agreement Template (Nigeria)
Clear, law-compliant tenancy agreement template for either residential or commercial property in Nigeria between landlord and tenant; easily edit and download
Preview
A Nigeria-ready tenancy agreement for any property — customize and download in minutes
A tenancy agreement is the contract a landlord (or property manager) and a tenant sign to put the letting of a property in writing. This template is a standard, plain-English format tailored to Nigerian law and works for any type of property — residential or commercial. It reflects the rules Nigerian state tenancy laws (such as the Lagos State Tenancy Law) place on landlords and tenants: limits on how much rent may be collected in advance, the statutory notices needed to end a tenancy and recover possession, the requirement to go through the courts rather than self-help, and stamp duty on the agreement.
Just answer a few simple questions — the landlord's and tenant's details, the property and the state it is in, the rent and payment frequency, the term and deposit — and your personalized Nigerian tenancy agreement is generated instantly, ready to download as PDF or Word.
What this tenancy agreement includes
- Clear identification of the Landlord / property manager and the Tenant, and the State where the property is located (which sets the applicable tenancy law)
- The Property, a residential or commercial type selector, and its permitted use
- A fixed yearly term with start and end dates
- The rent, paid monthly or yearly, plus an advance-rent clause reflecting the statutory limits (no more than one year's rent from a yearly tenant, or six months from a monthly tenant) and a landlord's duty to issue receipts
- A refundable security deposit / caution fee with clear rules on deductions and return
- Utilities, rates and outgoings, and a fair split of maintenance and repair responsibilities
- Rules on alterations, assignment and subletting, an insurance clause, and the landlord's right of entry with quiet-enjoyment protection
- A renewal clause and a periodic-tenancy fallback
- An ending-the-tenancy and recovery-of-possession clause reflecting Nigerian practice — seven days' notice of intention to recover possession after a fixed term, statutory notice-to-quit periods for periodic tenancies, and no eviction without a court order
- A stamp duty clause, notices clause, and a governing-law clause pointing to the state's courts or rent tribunal
- A signature block for the landlord, tenant and a witness
How to create your tenancy agreement
1. Open the template and click Generate.
2. Answer the guided questions — the parties, the property and state, the rent and frequency, the term, deposit and any special terms.
3. Generate the document — your details are merged into the agreement automatically.
4. Review and download as PDF or Word, then sign before a witness, pay the applicable stamp duty, and have the agreement stamped.
Who is this tenancy agreement for?
Landlords, property managers and agents letting a home, flat, shop, office or unit anywhere in Nigeria, and tenants who want a clear, law-compliant contract. Because tenancy law in Nigeria is made at state level, you enter the State where the property is, and the agreement applies that state's tenancy law and courts.
Disclaimer: This template is provided for convenience and general information only and is not legal advice. Tenancy law in Nigeria is governed at state level (for example the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011), and some areas and property types are treated differently. Advance-rent limits, notice periods, stamp duty and recovery-of-premises procedures can change and are strictly enforced. For high-value or commercial lettings, or anything you are unsure about, have the final agreement reviewed by a qualified Nigerian lawyer before signing.
---
What's included
- Professional formatting and layout
- Easy customization with guided questions
- Multiple export formats: pdf, docx
- Clauses aligned with Nigerian state tenancy law (advance rent, notice to quit, stamp duty)
- Instant download after generation
- Professional formatting and layout
- Easy customization with guided questions
- Multiple export formats: pdf, docx
- Legally reviewed and compliant
- Instant download after generation
Is this tenancy agreement valid across Nigeria?
Yes. Tenancy law in Nigeria is made at state level — for example the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 — so the template asks for the State where the property is located and is expressed to be governed by that state's tenancy law and courts. The core structure (rent, term, deposit, repairs, renewal, recovery of possession) applies nationwide, while the state field ties it to the right local law.
How much rent can a landlord collect in advance?
Under laws such as the Lagos State Tenancy Law, a landlord cannot demand or receive more than one year's rent in advance from a yearly tenant, or six months' rent from a monthly tenant. The template's advance-rent clause reflects these limits and confirms the tenant is not required to pay more, and it requires the landlord to issue receipts for payments.
What notice is needed to end the tenancy or evict a tenant?
When a fixed term simply expires, the landlord does not need a notice to quit but must serve a seven days' notice of intention to apply to recover possession before going to court. For a periodic tenancy, statutory notice to quit applies — generally one month for a monthly tenancy and six months for a yearly tenancy. Crucially, a landlord cannot evict by self-help; possession must be recovered through the court.
Can I use it for both homes and business premises?
Yes. The template has a property type selector for residential or commercial lettings, with clauses on use, repairs, insurance, subletting and renewal written to fit either a home, shop, office or unit. For large or specialized commercial lettings you may want additional terms drafted by a lawyer.
Does the agreement attract stamp duty?
Yes. A tenancy agreement in Nigeria is liable to stamp duty under the Stamp Duties Act. The template provides that the tenant pays the applicable duty and that the agreement is stamped, which helps make it admissible in evidence if a dispute goes to court.
How does the security deposit (caution fee) work?
The tenant pays a refundable deposit or caution fee at the start, which the landlord holds as security. At the end of the tenancy the landlord returns it, less proper deductions for unpaid rent, damage beyond fair wear and tear, or other breaches, within the number of days you set. Keeping an inventory at move-in makes settling the deposit fairer for both sides.
Premium plan required to use this template