Short let (shortlet)

A short let is a furnished flat or house you book for a stay, from a single night to a few months, instead of signing a yearly tenancy. It comes ready to live in: furniture, bedding, a kitchen with equipment, Wi-Fi, television and usually backup power. Many include cleaning during the stay.

Who uses them. Visitors from abroad and from other states, people on work trips, families relocating while they look for a long-term home, and groups in town for weddings, events and holidays.

How booking works. You agree dates with the host or manager and pay before check-in. Most hosts also take a caution deposit, a refundable security deposit that covers damage, breakages or unpaid extras, and return it after check-out once the apartment has been inspected. House rules on visitors, parties, smoking and check-in times are set by the host and the building.

Who lets them. Some owners run their own units, some hand them to management companies, and some tenants let out a flat they themselves rent. That last group is where most disputes start.

Subletting and the tenancy agreement. The Lagos Tenancy Law requires a tenant to have the landlord's written consent before subletting any part of the premises. A tenant who turns a rented flat into a short let without that consent risks breaching the tenancy. Ikoyi and Victoria Island are among the areas where the Law does not apply, so there the tenancy agreement itself decides what is allowed, and most agreements forbid subletting without consent.

Estate rules. Estates can and do restrict short lets on security grounds. Banana Island in Ikoyi banned short-let and similar rentals across the estate after arrests linked to people staying in short-let units, and other estates have tightened guest registration. If you are booking, check that guests are allowed in; if you are buying to let this way, check the estate's current position and any restriction in your lease or deed.

• Lagos: the largest market, concentrated in Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikoyi, with more on the mainland near the airport and in Ikeja.
• Abuja: concentrated in central districts such as Wuse, Maitama and Jabi, and popular with visitors on official and business trips.
• Other cities: smaller markets, mostly in newer estates in Port Harcourt, Ibadan and similar cities.