“I spent my money renovating the house then my landlord served me quit notice” – Tenant cries out

A Nigerian tenant has sparked reactions online after sharing his ordeal with a landlord who allegedly asked him to vacate an apartment shortly after he spent his personal money renovating it.

The anonymous message was shared by a barrister on social media, with the tenant seeking legal advice over the situation.

Renovations With Verbal Approval

According to the tenant, he moved into the apartment in 2024 and carried out several renovations, including installing POP ceiling, tiles, and other fittings, all funded from his own pocket.

He explained that before making the changes, he verbally informed his landlord, who reportedly gave him permission to redesign the house to suit his taste.

Rent Increase Despite Improvements

The following year, he said his landlord increased the rent from ₦1.2 million to ₦1.5 million. Despite the hike, he claimed he paid without protest and continued living in the apartment.

However, his situation reportedly took a sudden turn just six months after paying for another year.

Quit Notice Over Landlord’s Marriage Plans

He alleged that the landlord served him a quit notice, explaining that he was preparing to get married and wanted his new wife to occupy the exact flat he was living in.

The post reads: “Barr. Wendy, I need legal advice. Please keep me anonymous.In 2024, I moved into an apartment and spent my own money installing POP, tiles, carrying out some other renovations. Before doing this, l orally informed my landlord and he told me I was free to put the house in whatever condition or design that suited my taste.The following year, he increased the rent from N1.2 million to A1.5 million, I still paid.

However, just six months after paying for my second year, he suddenly served me a quit notice, saying he was about to get married and wanted his new wife to occupy the flat I was living in. What made the situation more confusing was that another tenant had recently moved out and that flat was still vacant. I even told him about the empty flat, but he insisted that if I didn’t want to leave, I should move into that one instead because he specifically wanted his new wife to stay in the second-floor apartment I was occupying.I didn’t argue much with him. Since I had personally paid for the POP, tiles and some fittings, I removed everything l installed and damaged the POP I fixed before moving out of the apartment.
Now my landlord has been threatening to get me arrested, saying I must return and fix the POP and tiles back. Yesterday, I received a call and SMS from Ikorodu Police Station, asking me to report there on Monday because a petition was written against me for willful and malicious damage to property.

Barrister, I am really confused and worried. Is it an offence for someone to remove what they personally installed in a rented apartment with their own money?”

See below;