Direct answer
In a market where rent is usually paid a year upfront, it is tempting to think the payment is the screening: if they can pay, they can stay. Landlords who have been through a bad tenancy know better. The year's rent covers the first year. It does not cover the damage, the neighbours' complaints, the renewal that never comes, or the months of a tenant who will not leave once the money runs out. Recovering possession through the courts can take a long time. A few hours of checking before the tenancy starts is far cheaper. This guide sets out what to ask, what to verify and what to watch for.
Why screening still matters when rent is paid upfront
Upfront rent protects the first rent period. Everything after that depends on who the tenant is: whether they look after the property, whether they can renew, and whether they leave when the tenancy ends. Screening is how you find out before you are bound by an agreement.
It also protects you from fraud. Rent paid with money from a scheme, a tenant who sub-lets to people you have never met, or an applicant who is fronting for someone else are all problems that a basic set of checks will usually surface.
What to collect on the application
Use the same application for every applicant, so you can compare like with like and nobody can say they were treated differently. Ask only for what you will actually use.
- Full name, phone number and email address
- Current address and how long they have lived there
- Employer or business, role and length of employment
- Approximate income, or income band
- Number of people who will live in the unit
- Intended move-in date and length of tenancy
- Previous landlord or agent's name and contact
- A valid means of identification
- Guarantor's details
Checking employment and income
For an employed applicant, ask for an employment letter or a recent payslip, and confirm it directly with the employer using a phone number or email you find yourself, not the one printed on the letter. A short call to HR asking whether the person works there is normally enough.
For a self-employed applicant or business owner, ask for recent bank statements and evidence the business is real, such as a CAC registration or a trading address you can visit. A common rule of thumb is that annual rent should be a manageable share of annual income, not most of it. Apply the same test to everyone.
Guarantor letters
A guarantor is someone who undertakes to answer for the tenant's obligations if the tenant does not. In Nigeria, guarantors are commonly employers, senior colleagues, relatives or professionals. A guarantor is only as good as their willingness and ability to pay, and only as useful as the document they sign.
A tenant guarantor form should identify the guarantor fully, describe the property and the tenancy, state clearly what obligations they are guaranteeing, such as rent, damage and service charge, and be signed and dated. Ask for the guarantor's ID and confirm their details by phone. A guarantor who will not pick up the phone before the tenancy will not pick it up afterwards.
Have a lawyer review your guarantor form once, so it is clear and enforceable, then use it for every tenancy.
References, ID and how they behave at the viewing
Call the previous landlord or agent. Ask whether rent was paid on time, whether the property was returned in good condition, whether there were complaints, and whether they would let to this person again. Be aware that a current landlord who wants a difficult tenant gone may give a glowing reference, so the landlord before that can be more candid.
Check the original of the ID against the person in front of you: a National Identification Number slip or card, international passport, driver's licence or voter's card. Make sure the name matches the application, the employment letter and the guarantor form.
Watch the viewing too. Applicants who arrive on time, ask sensible questions about the property and are relaxed about your checks are usually a good sign. Pressure to skip the paperwork, offers to pay extra in cash to move in immediately, or reluctance to say who will actually live there are not.
Red flags and a screening checklist
One red flag is a reason to ask more questions, not necessarily to reject. Several together usually tell you what you need to know.
| Check | What good looks like | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Complete, consistent details | Gaps, or details that change between conversations |
| Identity | Original ID matching the application | Only photocopies, or names that do not match |
| Employment | Confirmed directly with the employer | Employer cannot be reached or does not know them |
| Income | Rent is a manageable share of income | Rent is most of declared income |
| Guarantor | Reachable, identified and signs the form | Unreachable, or reluctant to sign |
| Previous landlord | Paid on time, left in good order | Cannot or will not give a previous landlord |
| Occupants | Clear who will live there | Vague, or more people than the unit suits |
| Payment | Traceable bank transfer | Insists on large cash payments, or pressure to move in today |
How Ledge helps
Ledge lets you publish a listing page for a vacant unit. Applicants apply online with their name, phone, email, employment status, income band, household size, move-in date and a message, and can book a viewing. Each application moves through New, In review, Shortlisted, Approved, Rejected or Withdrawn, so you can see every applicant for a unit in one place and treat them the same way. New applications also appear in the notification centre, and managers can find any application with universal search.
To be clear about the limits: Ledge does not run credit checks, verify identity or confirm employment. The checks in this guide are still yours to do. What Ledge gives you is a consistent application and a record of who applied and what was decided.
Once you approve someone, they become a tenant on the same record, with their lease, rent schedule and receipts. On Starter and above, Ledge drafts the tenancy agreement with the parties and premises filled in, using your own standard clauses. The Free plan covers up to 5 units.
Keep it consistent and keep it private
Apply the same checks to every applicant and write down why you accepted or declined each one. Consistency is fairer, and it protects you if a decision is ever questioned.
Applications contain personal data: IDs, payslips, bank statements. Collect only what you need, store it securely, and do not share it beyond the people making the decision. The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 sets general rules on handling personal data, so take advice if you collect it at scale. If a tenancy does go wrong, see How to Handle Rent Defaults in Nigeria: A Practical Guide for Landlords and Property Managers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I vet a tenant in Nigeria?
Use a standard application, check original ID, confirm employment directly with the employer, review income or bank statements, take a signed guarantor form and confirm the guarantor by phone, and call a previous landlord. Apply the same checks to every applicant.
What should a tenant guarantor form contain?
The guarantor's full name, address, phone, occupation and ID, the property and tenancy being guaranteed, the obligations guaranteed such as rent and damage, and the guarantor's signature and date. Have a lawyer review the form once and use it consistently.
Does Ledge check a tenant's credit or identity?
No. Ledge collects applications through a listing page and tracks their status, but it does not run credit checks, verify identity or confirm employment. The landlord or manager does those checks.
Is a large upfront payment a good sign?
Not on its own. Upfront rent covers the first rent period, not the tenant's conduct, renewal or departure. Pressure to pay extra in cash to skip checks is a red flag rather than a reassurance.
Next step
Collect applications in one place
Publish a listing, take applications and viewings online, and move each applicant from New to Approved on one record. Free for up to 5 units.