Self-Contain for Rent in Lagos: The Complete Guide

A self-contain (or "self-con") is a single private unit with its own bathroom and a small kitchen or kitchenette - everything self-contained behind your own front door. It is the most popular entry-level rental in Lagos because it gives you privacy without the cost of a full flat.

A typical self-contain includes:

• A private bedroom/living space
• Your own bathroom and toilet
• A kitchen or kitchenette
• A private entrance - you share none of these with other tenants

Some are part of a larger compound; others sit within a block of similar units.

Self-contains are the most affordable private option in Lagos. The mainland - Yaba, Surulere, Gbagada, Ikeja - offers the best value, while island self-contains in Lekki cost more. Beyond annual rent, budget for the refundable caution deposit, agency fee and legal fee.

Because self-contains are cheap and in demand, they are a favourite target for ghost-landlord scams. Never pay an inspection or deposit fee before seeing the unit in person, be wary of prices well below the area average, and refuse to send money to a personal account with no agreement or receipt.

• Inspected in person, day and evening
• Water and prepaid meter confirmed working
• Landlord verified as owner or authorised
• Written tenancy agreement in hand
• Payment through escrow, not cash to a stranger