I Paid Rent, Renovated, and Then Got Evicted In 3 Months By My Landlady — All Because of My Church
The Real Stories of Nigerian Tenants
After months of house-hunting in Calabar, Fola and her elder brother thought they had finally found the perfect place to call home a peaceful compound with just three tenants, the right space, and a warm welcome from the landlady. But that joy was short-lived. What started as a dream rental turned into a quiet nightmare all because of where they worship.
Q: How did you find the apartment and what made you decide to take it?
Fola:
It wasn’t easy. We had been searching for months. Many of the places we saw were either too cramped, had poor water supply, or were just not worth the asking price. So when we found this apartment, it felt like a blessing. The compound had only two other tenants, and the space was just right, calm, clean, with enough room to breathe. The landlady seemed okay too. We paid fully, and I even spent extra on renovations. I really thought we’d finally settled down.
Q: At what point did things start to feel off?
Fola:
Honestly, it was after about three months. I was living normally, going to church, and attending programs. One day, out of the blue, the landlady started complaining about the people who visited me and the church I attend. I am a member of a white garment church, and apparently, she didn’t like that. She didn’t say it directly at first, but the energy changed.
Q: Did she confront you directly?
Fola:
Yes. Eventually, she came out and said she didn’t want “that kind of church” in her house. I was shocked. It is not like we were loud or disruptive, we didn’t even hold services at home. My routine was school, staying indoors most of the time, and going to church on Sundays. It felt like pure discrimination. Then she told my brother and me that we had to move out.
Q: How did that make you feel after investing in the place and settling in?
Fola:
It hurt. Deeply. We had spent a lot not just on rent, but on painting, plumbing, fixing things up. I had grown to love that space. It felt like mine. But all of a sudden, it was like we didn’t belong anymore. We tried to reason with her, but she gave us a deadline to leave.
Q: Did you consider fighting it legally or demanding a refund?
Fola:
We thought about it, but you know how it is here it would have dragged. And the emotional stress was already too much. My brother and I just started looking again. Eventually, we left. But that experience made me question how protected tenants really are in Nigeria.
Q: What would you say to someone going through something similar?
Fola:
Document everything. Have receipts, videos if possible. And don’t be afraid to speak out. Most importantly, ask more questions before you rent. The house might be perfect, but if the landlord has hidden biases, you could suffer for it.
Fola’s story isn’t rare. Across Nigeria, tenants face rejection and eviction not just for late rent, but for their religion, marital status, or even dress sense. These are the stories we don’t hear enough, but they shape the way people live, rent, and survive.
If you have had a similar experience, share your story with us. Because in telling, we help others learn, prepare and heal. Follow us at NHM for more relatable content in Nigeria real estate.
