Introducing Directrent.ng: Ending the Mandatory Middleman in Lagos
By Ololade
Every Lagos renter knows the story. You find an apartment you love, and then the fees start piling up — agency commission, legal fees, caution fees, agreement fees, inspection fees. Before you've spent a single night in your new home, you've handed over hundreds of thousands of naira to middlemen who add no real value to the transaction.
That experience — multiplied across millions of Lagos renters — is the problem Directrent.ng was built to solve.
The Research Behind the Platform
Directrent.ng isn't just another app. It's the product of rigorous academic research conducted as part of an MBA capstone at Rome Business School. We surveyed 70 participants — 50 tenants and 20 landlords — across five Lagos neighborhoods to quantify what we call the "Agent Effect."
The findings were striking: tenants pay an average of 32% of their annual rent in non-housing fees. Agent-managed properties sit vacant for 63 days on average, versus just 25 days for direct listings. And 100% of surveyed landlords and tenants expressed willingness to switch to a direct platform.
What We're Building
Directrent.ng connects landlords and tenants directly through a verified marketplace. Every user is verified via BVN/NIN. Payments are secured through Paystack escrow. Lease agreements are digital and legally compliant with Lagos State Tenancy Law.
The result? Tenants save an average of ₦300,000. Landlords fill vacancies 61% faster. Everyone wins — except the middlemen.
Join the Movement
We're launching first in Yaba and Surulere — two of Lagos's most active rental markets. Join our waitlist to be among the first to experience a better way to rent.