Rented real estate will teach you lessons that no university can. I heard a story recently that made me realize: Sometimes, your own good heart is what the Landlord uses to “finish” you.
There was this young couple: let’s call them Emeka and Joy. They rented a “manageable” 2-bedroom flat in Life Camp.
The house was a bit rough around the edges, but they had “taste.” They decided to make it a home. Over two years, they poured their sweat and salary into that flat:
The Walls: They scraped off the cheap lime wash and put in high-quality scrubbable paint and expensive wallpaper.
The Lighting: Out went the naked bulbs; in came fancy chandeliers and LED “hidden” lights.
The Bathroom: They replaced the leaking taps with gold-finish mixers and put in a water heater that actually worked.
The Compound: They even planted flowers and interlocked the small patch in front of their door.
They were so proud. The house went from looking like a “face-me-I-face-you” to a Boutique Hotel.
One Saturday, the Landlord – a man they hadn’t seen in 18 months – suddenly showed up for “routine inspection.”
He walked in and his jaw dropped. He touched the walls. He flipped the fancy light switches. He spent 30 minutes just admiring the bathroom. He kept saying, “Wow, Oga Emeka, you have really tried. This place is looking like Asokoro!” Emeka and Joy were beaming. They thought, “Finally, a Landlord who appreciates good tenants. Maybe he’ll even give us a discount on the next rent.”
The Blow:
Three days later, a WhatsApp message dropped.
”Dear Tenant, I was very impressed with the NEW STANDARD of the apartment during my visit. Based on the current market value of such a LUXURY RENOVATED flat in this area, your rent is increasing from ₦1.8M to ₦4M effective next month. If you cannot meet up, please vacate so we can let it to the new interested clients.”
That was when they realised they didn’t just renovate the house; they renovated themselves out of the house. They paid for the materials, paid the artisans, and then were asked to pay “Luxury Rent” for the luxury they created with their own money!
That was the day they packed their bags, moved into a “rough” uncompleted building they had started on their own land, and swore never to put a nail in a rented wall again.
Have you ever “over-decorated” a rented house only for the Landlord to show you “shege”? Tell your story in the comments! 👇
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