Flatmate Agreement Nigeria: What Should Be in It (with Free Template)

Most flatmate disputes in Nigeria come down to one question: "What did we agree to?" And the answer, most of the time, is "We didn't really agree to anything specific." Verbal understandings dissolve into he-said-she-said.

A flatmate agreement is the cure. It's not a hostile legal document — it's a reference point you both sign so future disagreements have a definitive answer. This guide covers exactly what should be in one, why each clause matters, and includes a free template.

Is a Flatmate Agreement Legally Binding in Nigeria?

Short answer: Yes, if both parties sign it. Nigerian contract law recognises any written agreement between competent adults as legally enforceable, provided there's clear offer, acceptance, and consideration (which is satisfied by sharing an apartment with mutual financial obligations).

Practical reality: Most flatmate disputes are resolved through conversation, not court. The agreement's main value is preventing disputes by setting clear expectations — and providing a reference if someone needs to escalate.

For escalation: The Lagos State Rent Tribunal accepts flatmate agreements as evidence in cases involving co-tenants. Courts may consider them in damages claims.

Why You Need One Even With a Friend

The strongest belief most people have is "we don't need to make it formal — we trust each other." This is exactly when you need it most.

Trust without documentation works perfectly while everything is going well. The moment something goes wrong — late rent, damage, surprise move-out — the conversation becomes "I thought we agreed..." vs "No, we agreed..." Friendship survives clear agreements. It struggles with vague ones.

The 12 Clauses Every Flatmate Agreement Should Have

Clause 1: Parties

What it is: Full names, NIN numbers, phone numbers, emails of both flatmates.

Why it matters: Establishes identity. NIN inclusion adds verification weight.

Clause 2: Property

What it is: Full property address, specific room each person occupies, shared spaces.

Why it matters: Removes ambiguity about who has what space. If the master bedroom has the ensuite, the agreement notes that.

Clause 3: Term and Notice

What it is: Start date, end date (matching the lease), and notice period for termination (typically 30-60 days).

Why it matters: If one person wants to leave early, the notice period gives the other person time to find a replacement.

Clause 4: Rent Split

What it is: Total rent, each person's share, payment schedule, payment method.

Example: "Total annual rent: ₦2.4M. Person A (master bedroom) pays ₦1.4M annually. Person B (second bedroom) pays ₦1M annually. Both pay directly to landlord by 1st January each year."

Clause 5: Utility Bills

What it is: Which bills are shared, how they're split, who pays which provider.

Example: "Internet (Starlink): equal split, Person A pays the bill, Person B reimburses by 5th of each month. Electricity: usage-weighted (60/40 favouring Person A who runs AC). Water: equal split, paid via shared Mushrooms ledger."

Clause 6: Shared Spaces

What it is: Rules for kitchen, living room, bathroom, balcony, parking — anything shared.

Example: "Kitchen: open access for both. Each person responsible for cleaning their own dishes within 4 hours of use. Common surfaces wiped weekly by rotating responsibility."

Clause 7: Guests

What it is: Policy for visitors, overnight guests, partners.

Example: "Guests welcome with same-day notice. Overnight guests limited to 2 nights per week. Partners staying 3+ nights/week require mutual agreement."

Clause 8: Quiet Hours and Lifestyle

What it is: Noise expectations, smoking, pets, common sense rules.

Example: "Quiet hours: 10pm-7am Sunday-Thursday. No smoking inside. Both parties agree to keep music below conversation level after 10pm."

Clause 9: Cleaning

What it is: Whether you hire a cleaner (cost split), or rotate responsibility, and which spaces.

Example: "Shared cleaner every 2 weeks (₦8K/visit, split equally). Each person responsible for their own bedroom. Kitchen rotation: Person A on odd weeks, Person B on even weeks."

Clause 10: Repairs and Damage

What it is: Who pays for what when something breaks.

Example: "Shared appliances (microwave, kettle, fan): repairs split equally. Personal damage (e.g., one person's spilled drink ruins the carpet): personal responsibility. Landlord-related issues (plumbing, structural): not flatmate cost."

Clause 11: Replacement and Early Termination

What it is: What happens if one person needs to leave before the lease ends.

Example: "Person leaving early gives 60 days' notice and is responsible for finding a replacement acceptable to remaining flatmate. If no replacement found, leaving party covers their share of rent until the lease term ends or until a new flatmate moves in."

Clause 12: Dispute Resolution

What it is: Process for handling conflicts before escalation.

Example: "Disputes addressed first by direct conversation. If unresolved within 7 days, written summary exchanged. If still unresolved, mediation through Mushrooms platform support or Lagos State Rent Tribunal."

Free Flatmate Agreement Template

` FLATMATE AGREEMENT

This agreement is between:

• Full Name: [Name]
• NIN: [Number]
• Phone: [Number]
• Email: [Email]

• Full Name: [Name]
• NIN: [Number]
• Phone: [Number]
• Email: [Email]

PROPERTY Address: [Full property address] Person A occupies: [Bedroom description] Person B occupies: [Bedroom description] Shared spaces: [Living room, kitchen, bathroom, balcony, etc.]

TERM Start date: [Date] End date: [Date matching lease] Notice period for early termination: [30/60/90 days]

RENT Total annual rent: ₦[amount] Person A share: ₦[amount] (paid by [date], to [who/how]) Person B share: ₦[amount] (paid by [date], to [who/how])

UTILITIES [List each utility — electricity, water, internet, generator, waste, security] [For each: how it's split, who pays the bill, when reimbursement is due]

SHARED EXPENSES Cleaning service: [Yes/No, frequency, cost split] Shared groceries: [Yes/No, budget if yes] Other shared costs: [Detail any]

GUESTS Day visitors: [Policy] Overnight guests: [Frequency limits] Long-term partners: [Conditions]

QUIET HOURS Quiet hours: [e.g., 10pm-7am weekdays] Music/TV after quiet hours: [Conditions] Smoking: [Allowed/not allowed, where] Pets: [Any restrictions]

CLEANING Shared spaces: [How rotation works] Personal spaces: [Each person's responsibility] Frequency expectations: [General standards]

REPAIRS Shared appliances: [Cost split] Damage caused by guests: [Whose responsibility] Personal damage: [Personal responsibility]

EARLY TERMINATION Notice required: [Days] Replacement responsibility: [Who finds replacement] Cost responsibility if no replacement: [Who covers]

DISPUTE RESOLUTION Step 1: Direct conversation within 7 days of issue arising Step 2: Written summary if unresolved Step 3: Mediation via Mushrooms platform / Lagos State Rent Tribunal

SIGNATURES Person A signature: _________________ Date: _______ Person B signature: _________________ Date: _______

Witness (optional): _________________ Date: _______ `

How to Sign It

The agreement becomes legally meaningful when both parties physically sign it. Steps:

1. Both parties review the document together — read each clause aloud, discuss any concerns
2. Make any agreed amendments — handwritten changes both parties initial are valid
3. Both parties sign and date — full legal name, signature, date
4. Optional but recommended: a witness signs — strengthens the document's legal weight if disputed
5. Both parties keep a signed copy — physical or scanned PDF in cloud storage

Mushrooms Auto-Generates This For You

When two flatmates match on Mushrooms and one person commits to a listing, the platform auto-generates a subletting agreement PDF. It includes:

• Both parties' details (names, contact info, NIN-verified status)
• Property address and specific room
• Term dates
• Rent breakdown (total, your share, payment references)
• Standard subletting clauses

You don't need a lawyer. You don't need to draft from scratch. The agreement matches Lagos State legal format and is downloadable from the platform anytime.

What If Your Flatmate Refuses to Sign?

Pushback to a written agreement is itself a red flag. Reasonable flatmates have no problem documenting commitments — they want the protection too.

If they refuse:

• Ask why specifically — "It feels too formal" is workable; "I don't want anything in writing" is not
• Offer to start small — a simple agreement on rent split and utilities, expanding later
• Walk away if necessary — someone who won't sign anything is signalling they want to renegotiate later

What to Do If There's a Dispute

If you have a written agreement and a dispute arises:

1. Refer to the agreement first — many disputes resolve when the actual text is re-read
2. Document the issue — date, amount, evidence
3. Send a written summary — WhatsApp message or email to the other party
4. Use mediation — Mushrooms support, mutual friend, or formal mediation
5. Lagos State Rent Tribunal — for unresolved disputes affecting tenancy

Without an agreement, you're starting from "we never wrote anything down." That's a dramatically weaker position.

The Bottom Line

A flatmate agreement is 60 minutes of upfront effort that prevents 60+ hours of dispute resolution later. Write it. Sign it. File it. You may never need to refer to it again — and that's the goal.

On Mushrooms, the agreement is auto-generated for every booking. NIN-verified flatmates, structured terms, downloadable PDF. Find your match on Mushrooms and skip the drafting entirely.