Before moving into a flat or shop, you usually pay the rent plus an agency fee and a legal or agreement fee (often 10% each of one year's rent), and sometimes a caution deposit and service charge. On ₦2,000,000 rent, that can be ₦2,750,000 or more. Enter your figures below, because fees vary by city and landlord.
How the Rent Move-In Cost Calculator works
- Enter the yearly rent and the number of years paid upfront.
- Enter the agency and legal fee percentages you have been quoted.
- Add any caution deposit and service charge.
- See the total before you move in and the monthly equivalent of the rent.
Worked example
A tailor rents a shop for ₦2,000,000 a year. The agent quotes 10% agency, 10% legal, a ₦200,000 caution deposit and ₦150,000 service charge.
Rent: ₦2,000,000
Agency fee: ₦200,000
Legal fee: ₦200,000
Caution: ₦200,000
Service charge: ₦150,000
Total: ₦2,750,000
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying cash without receipts
- Not asking whether the caution deposit is refundable
- Forgetting service charge in the budget
Need a different calculator?
Get a receipt for each payment
Ask for a separate receipt for rent, agency, legal and caution, each showing what it is for. The caution deposit should be refundable, so the receipt is your proof when you move out. Rent receipts also support your rent relief claim.
Negotiate before paying
Fees are not fixed everywhere. Ask what each fee covers, and whether the landlord accepts rent in parts. Some states have rules on how much rent can be collected in advance.
Frequently asked questions
How much is agency fee in Nigeria?
Often 10% of one year's rent, but it varies by city and agent.
Is caution fee refundable?
It should be, minus any repair costs. Get it in writing.
Can I claim tax relief on rent?
For your home, yes: 20% of rent up to ₦500,000 a year, from 2026.
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