The one rule that matters most
Golden Rule for Property Searchers in Nigeria
Never send money — inspection fee, agency fee, legal fee, deposit, rent, or purchase price — before you have physically inspected the property in person and confirmed that the person taking your money has verified legal title to let or sell it.GidaHaven never holds deposits, rent or purchase funds in escrow, and we never ask you to pay us directly to view a property. Any money you transfer goes directly to the lister, and we cannot recover it on your behalf.
Before you view
- Confirm the full physical street address, not just a vague neighborhood or district name.
- Ask who you will be meeting and in what legal capacity — registered owner, licensed agent, or caretaker.
- Keep a written record of what you agree: save messages, and ask for the address, the fees and who you are meeting in writing.
- Always notify a friend or family member of where you are going and your expected return time.
- Schedule inspections strictly during daylight hours, and take a trusted companion whenever possible.
- Do not pay arbitrary fees to be shown a property before you have inspected it.
Before you pay
- Inspect the property in person. Photographs and 3D tours prove nothing about current physical condition or immediate vacancy.
- Confirm ownership or legal authority independently — demand original title documents (C of O, R of O, Deed of Assignment) and engage a property lawyer for high-value transactions.
- Verify that the bank account name receiving funds matches the registered individual or CAC-registered company claiming ownership.
- Get every fee itemized in writing before committing: rent/sale price, agency commission, legal fee, annual service charge, and caution deposit.
- Insist on a formally signed tenancy agreement or deed of sale alongside an official signed receipt for every payment.
- Avoid paying an individual's personal bank account for a corporate property entity.
Warning signs & red flags
Treat any of the following occurrences as an immediate reason to pause and investigate further:
- High pressure tactics demanding immediate deposit transfer under the guise of competing buyers.
- A rental or sale price drastically below prevailing market rates for the specific district.
- Refusal to accommodate a physical inspection, with continuous excuses regarding key availability or travel.
- Requests to transfer funds to a third party unconnected to the listing or property owner.
- Inconsistent property details (discrepant house numbers, fluctuating service charges, or sudden changes in availability).
- Photocopied or blurry title documents that you are only permitted to glance at briefly.
- Demands for non-refundable 'commitment fees' to hold a property without a formal agreement.
- Requests for bank passwords, ATM cards, OTP tokens, or online banking credentials.
If something looks wrong or you suspect a scam
If a lister defrauds you
A verified badge means we checked a lister’s identity, not that they own the property. If an agent or lister on GidaHaven defrauds you or tries to:
- Report the listing with the Report button. We review reports and can freeze or ban the lister’s account, which hides all their listings.
- We may give the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) or the EFCC the details we hold about the lister where they ask for them or the law otherwise allows. Report the crime to them yourself as well: a complaint from you is what starts an investigation.
- We cannot recover money you have paid.
- Cease communication immediately if you feel pressured or threatened, and never attend a remote inspection alone.
- Do not transfer additional funds to 'unlock', 'reserve', or 'release' keys or properties.
- Report the listing or agent profile immediately using the Report button on GidaHaven.
- Preserve all transaction evidence — bank transfer receipts, bank account numbers, WhatsApp chats, SMS exchanges, and call logs.
- Report criminal fraud to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
- Contact your bank immediately to request an urgent fraud recall and PND (Post-No-Debit) freeze on the beneficiary account.
Reporting to GidaHaven lets us review a listing and freeze or ban the lister’s account, but we do not hold escrow funds and cannot recover lost monies on your behalf.
If you are a lister or property company
Strict Anti-Scam Warning for Listers
Stay out of property fraud. Only list properties you genuinely own or are legally authorised to advertise. Fraud will not be tolerated.
If you scam someone or are credibly reported for property fraud, we can freeze or ban your account, and we may give the Police and the EFCC the details we hold about you (your name, phone number, email address, ID type and last four characters of its number, and any ID photo and selfie) where they ask for them or the law otherwise allows. Make sure you are authorised to advertise every property you list.
- Keep your listing details accurate, and mark properties as Sold/Rented or remove them once closed.
- Disclose all mandatory fees transparently upfront in your listing description.
- Never solicit payments or inspection surcharges you have no legal right to collect.
- Upload only authentic, high-resolution media captured directly at the physical location.
- Prioritize personal safety during client inspections by verifying contact numbers in advance.
What our verified badges mean
A verified badge on GidaHaven indicates that our administrative team reviewed government-issued identity documents provided by the agent. It is not a guarantee of title legitimacy or a warranty on third-party behavior. Our Verification Policy explains our verification scope in detail.
Report suspicious activity or fraudulent listings directly to support@gidahaven.com.
Other Platform Policies & Agreements
The binding agreement governing buyers, renters, agents, and property companies on GidaHaven.
How we collect, protect, and process your personal data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
Our policy regarding strictly necessary cookies, preferences, analytics, and consent management.
What the GidaHaven Verified Badge means, what we check, and what it does not guarantee.