The Property Rental Experiences Of Single Nigerian Women
Written by Olaoluwa Ayotomiwa Alokan
In an ideal world, housing is considered a basic amenity. Everyone should have access to it — including single women. They should not have to struggle or worse still, be attached to a man in one form or another to be able to rent an apartment. This, however, is sadly the case for many women in Nigeria.
One would wonder how this is still an issue in big 2022, seeing how much the world has moved forward but here we are. After hearing a few women’s experiences, I did some research and realized it is a rather dire issue and what we are not going to do is stop talking about it. Prejudice against women who are house hunting must become a thing of the past in our society.
It is a known fact that Nigeria is a deeply patriarchal country. Patriarchy can be simply referred to as a system of beliefs, and values embedded in political, social, and economic systems that marginalizes women in every area of life. Regardless of time and place, it constantly finds a way to rear it’s ugly head. From education to religion, women are marginalized more often than not.
House-hunting and living alone as a single Nigerian woman is the absolute ghetto. The average landlord is against you, making the entire process difficult, as if women do not already suffer enough. To properly relay the experiences of Nigerian female renters, I reached out to a few women to share their experience with house hunting and live alone as a single woman.
Ramat*: I started actively searching for a 1-bedroom flat in March 2022 in Abuja. I had been casually looking for a few weeks and I was already tired. I had to increase my budget a few times because I just couldn’t find an apartment I liked, or something that was close to the idea of a suitable apartment I had in mind, at least. I received the first shock when I contacted one agent and before I asked if I could see the place, he said the landlord doesn’t rent to single women. And that was not the only time, sadly.
I found another one a few days later and I actually liked it, but the landlord said he did not like renting his flats to women because men are usually the ones sponsoring their lifestyle. What that means and how it was related to my search, I guess I would never know. Anyway, he accepted my application on the condition that I would bring my brother to stand in for me, despite the fact that I would be the person paying the rent and related bills.
Moyo*: House hunting was mentally tasking and rather hectic. A good number of the male agents I encountered saw it as an opportunity to exploit me. Also, the heightened risk of safety by just being a Nigerian woman was not helpful. I found myself in awkward, rough and scary parts of town after these agents asked that we meet up at a certain place. The things my eyes saw, my mouth can not say nor my hands write. My advice for anyone house hunting is to make sure they do not go alone to see houses. Go with a friend, relative, colleague, anybody. ALL THE TIME.
Even after scaling hurdles to find a place to live, many women have been saddled with absurd rules that are somehow only tailored for single women as a way to keep them in check. For example, Tosin* says her landlord does not allow her to receive male visitors at home. According to him, only a promiscuous woman would be comfortable having male visitors.
Where exactly have single Nigerian women gone wrong? Many Landlords seem to believe that women can not successfully sustain property rental payments even though many of them have well paying jobs. They still turn up their noses in an uppity manner to the idea that a woman dares to live outside her parents’ house before she is married. Will women ever be rid of double standards? The process of finding a decent house to live in is certainly not an easy task for anyone but complicating things for women by setting rules is completely unfair.
While things are beginning to shift, however slowly, it is important that we keep talking about the uncomfortable and unjust standards that women have to put up with. This is not a concrete solution, but Moyo* mentioned that she finally found a good living space when she dealt with a female house agent who understood and was able fill the gap between her and her landlord adequately. Maybe more women should become agents, and more women too should own houses but while that is a very welcome change, it is important for men to stop placing unrealistic expectations on women.
A friend I spoke to while writing this said. “It makes no sense that I have to bring a man to vouch for my character or act as my significant other when I would be the person to pay the rent and bills and also be responsible for repairs, should the need arise” and I completely agree.
Olaoluwa has loved storytelling from time and she is learning how to write her own stories now. Connect with Olaoluwa on Instagram, and Twitter.
Edited by Ifeoluwa A.
Ifeoluwa is a four-eyed retired accountant who is now interested in other books. She is a witty and eccentric writer, who spends her spare time eating, sleeping, watching series on Netflix and avoiding Nigeria. Connect with Ifeoluwa on Twitter.
Published by Akinsipe Temitope
Temitope is a young storyteller who thinks all stories are worth telling. She loves to inspire people to do what they love and follow their passions, tell their stories, and live in the present moment. Connect with Temitope on Instagram, and Twitter.
