By Oluwafemi Davies, Nigeria MLS Properties
If you have ever looked for a flat in Lagos, you know the conversation. You find a place you like. The rent is ₦1.2 million per year — manageable, you think. Then the agent tells you the landlord wants two years upfront. That’s ₦2.4 million, plus agency fee of 10% (₦120,000), plus legal fee (₦60,000), plus caution deposit (₦120,000). You are suddenly looking at ₦2.7 million before you can move in.
This is the Lagos rent problem. It is not illegal to pay one year in advance — Lagos State law caps it at one year. Two years is technically illegal and yet widely practised. And even one year upfront is a significant financial barrier for most workers, whose salaries arrive monthly.
Pay Small Small™ is Nigeria MLS’s answer to this problem.
What is Pay Small Small™?
Pay Small Small™ is a rent payment plan that converts your annual rent obligation into monthly instalments — at 0% interest. The landlord receives their full year’s rent upfront (Nigeria MLS advances it), and you repay Nigeria MLS monthly over 12 months.
The result: the landlord gets what they want (advance rent), and you pay what makes sense for your cash flow (monthly).
How It Works, Step by Step
- Find a property on Nigeria MLS that is Pay Small Small™ eligible
- Apply for Pay Small Small™ — this involves a brief KYC check (identity verification, employment confirmation, basic credit assessment)
- If approved, Nigeria MLS advances one year’s rent to the landlord on your behalf
- You move in
- You repay Nigeria MLS in 12 equal monthly instalments — no interest, no hidden charges
What Does Pay Small Small™ Actually Cost?
| Traditional (2 years upfront) | Traditional (1 year upfront) | Pay Small Small™ (monthly) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual rent (example) | ₦1,200,000 | ₦1,200,000 | ₦1,200,000 |
| Upfront payment required | ₦2,400,000 | ₦1,200,000 | ₦100,000/month |
| Agency fee | ₦120,000 | ₦120,000 | ₦120,000 |
| Legal fee | ₦60,000 | ₦60,000 | ₦60,000 |
| Caution deposit | ₦120,000 | ₦120,000 | ₦120,000 |
| Move-in cost | ₦2,700,000 | ₦1,500,000 | ₦400,000 + ₦100,000/month |
| Interest rate | 0% | 0% | 0% |
The savings in move-in cost are significant. For most Lagos residents, ₦400,000 is achievable in a way that ₦1.5 million or ₦2.7 million is not. And monthly payments of ₦100,000 align with how most salaries actually arrive.
Who Qualifies for Pay Small Small™?
Pay Small Small™ is available to employed Nigerians and registered business owners. The qualification criteria are designed to be accessible — this is not a premium credit product aimed at high earners. The goal is to serve the Lagos tenant who earns a regular salary and simply cannot raise twelve months’ rent at once.
Key eligibility factors:
- Valid Nigerian ID (NIN or international passport)
- Proof of employment or business registration
- 3 months’ bank statements
- BVN
Approval is typically communicated within 24–48 hours.
The Legal Side — Lagos Tenancy Law and Advance Rent
Under the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011, a landlord cannot lawfully demand more than one year’s rent in advance for a residential property. LASRERA reinforces this. In practice, many landlords — especially in the middle market — still ask for two years. This is exploitative and illegal, but tenants in need of housing often have no leverage to push back.
Pay Small Small™ effectively gives you that leverage. Because Nigeria MLS advances the full year’s rent to the landlord, landlords working with Pay Small Small™-eligible listings get their one-year advance — and you get monthly payments. Nobody needs to break the law, and nobody needs to empty their account in one transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pay Small Small™ really 0% interest?
Yes. There is no interest charged on the rent advance. Nigeria MLS earns a service fee from the transaction structure, but this is separate from the rent amount — the rent you repay monthly equals exactly the annual rent divided by 12. No extra charges on top of the rent itself.
What happens if I miss a monthly payment?
Missing a payment will be treated under the terms of your Pay Small Small™ agreement, which you sign at the point of approval. There are grace periods and a collections process before any action against your tenancy. The goal is always to resolve payment issues rather than to evict — Nigeria MLS needs you to stay in the property and keep paying, same as the landlord does.
Can I use Pay Small Small™ for a property not listed on Nigeria MLS?
Currently, Pay Small Small™ is available for properties listed on Nigeria MLS Properties. If you have found a property elsewhere and want to discuss whether it can be structured through Nigeria MLS, contact the team directly.
Does the landlord know I am using Pay Small Small™?
Yes. The landlord receives the full year’s advance from Nigeria MLS and signs an agreement with us. This is a transparent, documented arrangement — not something done behind the landlord’s back.
Find a Pay Small Small™ Eligible Property
Browse rental listings on Nigeria MLS and filter for Pay Small Small™ eligibility. Monthly rent payments in Lagos are no longer a privilege for a few — they are a product available now.
Browse rental listings on Nigeria MLS Properties or learn more about Pay Small Small™.