Instant Book vs. Request to Book - What's the Difference?

Listings with the 'Instant Book' label can be booked immediately without waiting for the host to approve your request. Once you confirm your dates, add your message, and complete payment via Paystack, the booking is confirmed automatically - usually within seconds.

Instant Book is ideal if you need accommodation urgently - for example if you are relocating for a new job in Lagos or Abuja and need to secure a room within days. Hosts who enable Instant Book have agreed that any guest who meets their stated requirements (verified profile, positive reviews) can book without prior approval.

Most listings on Flatmates Nigeria use the Request to Book system. After you submit a request - including your dates and an introduction message - the host has up to 24 hours to accept or decline. Your payment is only captured after the host accepts.

Request to Book gives the host more control over who moves into their property. This is common for shared houses where existing flatmates want to vet potential new housemates, and for hosts in high-demand areas like Ikoyi or Asokoro who receive many enquiries.

If a host declines or does not respond within 24 hours, your hold is released and no charge is made to your card or bank account.

Choose Instant Book if:

• You need to move in quickly and cannot afford to wait for approvals
• Your profile is fully complete and identity-verified
• You have positive reviews from previous stays

Choose Request to Book if you want to communicate with the host before committing, or if the room is part of a shared house where you want to get a feel for the existing flatmates first. Either way, you are protected by the Flatmates escrow system.

Yes, but it carries penalties. If a host cancels an Instant Book confirmed booking, you receive a full refund including all fees, plus a booking credit. The host's listing is also temporarily hidden from search results.

If you notice a host has a pattern of cancelling Instant Book reservations, report it via the listing page. Such behaviour violates our hosting standards and will result in the Instant Book feature being removed from that listing.