Service charge (estate dues)

In flats, serviced apartments and gated estates, the cost of shared services is split between residents as a service charge. It can cover security guards, a generator or inverter for common areas, water pumping, cleaning of stairs and grounds, refuse collection, lift maintenance and the manager's own fee.

Listings on Property Centre can show the service charge separately from the rent, with how often it is paid. A "serviced" flat usually means services are included in exchange for a service charge.

What the law says now (Lagos). The Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011 allows a landlord to collect a service charge on top of rent. A separate receipt must be issued, and the tenant is entitled to a regular written account of how the money was spent; the figures box gives how often. The law's definition of rent leaves out charges for services and facilities, so a service charge is not rent.

What may change. The 2025 Lagos tenancy Bill keeps the written-account rule and adds that every such charge must be stated in the tenancy agreement.

Buying in an estate. Unpaid service charge can follow a property. Ask the estate or facility manager for a statement before you pay for a flat or house.

Service charge in listings. When an advertiser adds a service charge to a Property Centre listing, it is shown next to the rent with how often it is paid. Compare listings on rent plus service charge, not rent alone, because a cheaper rent with a high service charge can cost more over the year.

• Lagos: the 2011 law's receipt and account rules apply outside Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria Island.
• Abuja (FCT): no statute found on residential service charges; the tenancy agreement and estate rules govern.
• Everywhere: amounts vary widely by estate and building. The figures box shows the typical charge in Property Centre listings where enough listings report it.