How to Screen a Tenant Properly in Nigeria (Free Checklist Included)

A bad tenant doesn't just cost you rent. They cost you months of stress, legal back-and-forth, and sometimes damage that eats your deposit and then some. Most of that risk gets baked in at the very start, during screening, and most landlords skip half the steps because they're doing it from memory, on a phone, between other things.

Here's a proper walkthrough of what screening should actually cover, plus a free checklist at the end so you don't have to remember it all next time.

1. Verify identity first, before anything else

Before you discuss rent or move-in dates, confirm who you're actually dealing with. Ask for a valid government-issued ID such as a National ID, voter's card, international passport, or driver's license, and make sure the photo matches the person in front of you. Keep a copy on file. Pair this with proof of address (a recent utility bill or bank statement, ideally not older than three months) to confirm they are who they say they are and live where they say they live.

This step feels obvious, but it's the one most commonly skipped when a landlord is eager to fill a vacancy.

2. Confirm income can actually cover the rent

A common local guideline is that monthly or annual income should be roughly 3–4x the rent. Adjust this to your market and property type. Ask for an employment letter or, for business owners, registration documents and a few months of bank statements. Don't just take a verbal number; see the evidence.

Self-employed applicants need a bit more scrutiny. Request at least six months of statements, since income can be irregular even when it's genuinely sufficient over time.

3. Call the previous landlord. Don't skip this

This is the single highest-value step and the one people avoid because it takes an extra phone call. Ask directly: was rent paid on time? Was the property well kept? Why did they leave? A previous landlord who's evasive, unreachable, or gives a vague non-answer is itself useful information.

4. Check references that aren't family

Two references who know the applicant outside of a family relationship, such as a former colleague or a business associate, give you a more honest picture than a sibling will.

5. Get a guarantor, especially for first-time renters

This is standard practice in most Nigerian tenancies for good reason. A guarantor who understands they're liable if the tenant defaults adds real accountability. Confirm their occupation, verify their ID, and make sure they understand what they're agreeing to. Don't let it be a formality they sign without reading.

6. Watch for the red flags that show up early

A few patterns are worth taking seriously the moment you see them:

• Reluctance to provide ID, references, or income proof
• Answers that don't match what's on the application
• A previous landlord who won't comment
• Pressure to skip steps or rush signing
• Insistence on unusual payment arrangements (cash only, no receipt)

None of these are automatic disqualifiers on their own, but two or more together are a strong signal to slow down.

Put it all in one place

Trying to hold all of this in your head, or scattered across a WhatsApp chat with the applicant, a screenshot of their ID, and a note on your phone, is exactly how steps get missed. Download the free checklist below and work through it property by property.

Download: Free Tenant Screening Checklist →

After you accept someone, the hard part becomes keeping their documents, lease, rent, and maintenance in one place instead of across chats and spreadsheets. Property Governors is built for that ops layer once a tenant is on board. Store their files, run the lease, collect rent, and track repairs without digging through old threads.

See how Property Governors works →