8 Types of Accommodation in Abuja
-by Araceli Aipoh
When moving to Abuja, either on a permanent or temporary basis (between 1 to 3 years), finding a place to stay is one of the most challenging obstacles newcomers have to face, especially those who are total strangers to the city and have no one to put them through or to answer their questions. It helps therefore to be familiar with at least some of the basic terms when it comes to the types of accommodation available in the city.
Flat or Apartment
These are perhaps the most common types of housing for average to high income families. Tenants share access to the building with other tenants. The costs of electricity, generator and water are usually the responsibility of each tenant, but in some cases it is included in the price of the rent, or charged separately as SERVICES. Most flats usually have a gateman who opens and closes the gate for tenants and visitors and who also doubles as security guard. Cost depends on location and facilities.
Detached House or Bungalow
This is a usually a separate, stand-alone dwelling surrounded by a high fence and perfect for tenants who want complete privacy and who do not mind the added burden of maintaining the garden as well as shouldering minor house repairs. There are many bungalows in Abuja but are costly, depending on the location. This is good for tenants with children who need plenty of space to run around. Noise from generator is reduced, unless you have neighbours who maintain generators, which is more likely.
Semi-detached House
This is a bungalow with two (or three) units that share a common wall. It is usually fenced round and with a wide front and backyard. Rent depends on location. Terms and conditions on the maintenance and who pays for what and when vary from one property to another. The advantage of this is that there is a semblance of privacy for the tenants and someone to share the cost of hiring a gateman or gardener. Also the noise of generator in the night is less than when in a block of flats.
Estate or Life Camp
These are those built by companies in a complex or life camp and may be available for rent to people outside of the company depending on availability. The rent is usually on the high side, as it includes facilities like tennis court, swimming pool, gym and a clubhouse, as well as 24-hour supply of water and electricity. All tenants and visitors have to pass through the main gate with security guards. Practically all types of repairs inside the house and maintenance of the surroundings are shouldered by the management. Many of these houses are fully furnished, adding to the cost of rent.
Corporate Tenancy
These are housing estates or block of flats or a cluster of bungalows that are rented out to a single organisation (mostly banks, embassies, international NGOs) for their staff. Depending on how big or small the housing estate is, many of such come with all facilities including generator, private water supply, swimming pool, tennis court, a function area, and gateman or guardhouse. As the name implies, landlords or agents rent out these properties to organisations and not to individual tenants.
Self-contained or Sub-let
A self-contained accommodation is a room/space just enough for a bed, wardrobe, bathroom and kitchen. It is the practice of many agents and developers to rent a house with multiple rooms, segregate the rooms and rent out each room to different parties. Major renovations are done to make sure that each accommodation is separate from the others. Terms and conditions vary as to the payment of light and water bills. Some have a common electric meter for light where the bill is divided between the tenants, while others have separate meters. The tenants are actually sub-tenants.
Boys Quarter (BQ)
Many houses come with a Boys’ Quarters, so called because they are meant for male domestic staff. These are tiny structures often located at the back of the main house, totally separate and complete with bathroom and kitchen. Some are attached to the main building but have separate entrances. Some tenants or house-owners do not have use for their BQs and so they sub-let them to third parties. A flat fee for light and water is charged in addition to the rent. The advantage of renting a BQ, if you can find and afford one, is that you often share in the amenities being enjoyed by the people in the main house.
Shared accommodation
Staffs of organisations often rent a whole house and share the rent and all other bills. This is different from the self-contained or sub-let type in that only the bedrooms are private while sitting room, bathroom, and kitchen are shared between the tenants. Agents are often not aware of the availability of this type because internal arrangements are made between the tenants who may be friends or colleagues in the office. Share accommodation is perfect for single expats. Since most expats come and go, especially those working in embassies, the vacated rooms often become available on a regular basis.
A word on real estate agents
Although one is always advised to take precaution when dealing with agents, you cannot ignore the fact that a genuine agent can make house-hunting a whole a lot easier. An agent is the person most likely to know the availability of houses or office spaces for rent. A lot of agents work as freelancers but they have connection to many established real estate agents and a network of other freelancers. They usually charge between 5 to 10% agency fees upon the signing of contract. When looking for an agent, ask for referrals from your friends or colleagues although it is not always a guarantee of genuine or legitimate service. In any case, it is advisable not to pay the agent his or her commission until you have settled everything with the landlord or you have collected the keys to the house and have moved in.
A word on rent practices
Practically 90% of landlords in Nigeria ask for two years advance payment while the rest will accept one-year advance. In addition to this, the agent gets 5% and the lawyer who prepares the contract gets 5%. Agents often have a ready-made contract, and so they collect the total 10%. There are also cases where the landlord gets the lawyer’s fee (also known as legal fee or contract fee.) More tips about house-hunting in Abuja such as dealing with agents and what to watch out for before making a payment can be found HERE.
Sudden termination of contract
Now, if for some reason the tenant would like to terminate the contract, it is often impossible to get a refund for the unused months (no matter how long or short the period since you moved in). Landlords or agents however agree to give you a refund if you are able to find someone who will take over from you, or another client has been found by the agent. You have to be clear about this with either the landlord or the agent because the process may differ from landlord to landlord. For example, the new tenant (or the person taking over from you) may be required to pay not just the amount equal to the unused months, but a complete one-year or two-year contract, and instead of making the payment to you, the one taking over from you is required to pay to the landlord/agent after which the landlord reimburses your money.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Araceli Aipoh has lived in Nigeria for 25 years. She is the author of a novel called No Sense of Limits. Follow her blog at www.insidetrack-abuja.blogspot.com.
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