For many Nigerian landlords, the tenancy agreement is the slowest part of letting a property. A draft is typed, printed, carried to the tenant, corrected, reprinted and finally signed, sometimes weeks after the tenant has paid. Digital tenancy agreements with e-signing shorten that process, so tenants can review and sign from wherever they are. This guide explains how digital agreements work, what to include and how to approach the legal side sensibly.
The problem with paper agreements
Paper has served landlords for decades, but it creates familiar headaches:
- Delays: getting both parties in the same place to sign can take days, especially when the tenant is relocating from another city.
- Lost copies: originals get misplaced, and it is not always clear which version was signed.
- Inconsistency: when each agreement is retyped from scratch, important clauses can be dropped by mistake.
- Poor visibility: it is hard to see at a glance which tenants have signed and which have not.
What a digital tenancy agreement is
A digital tenancy agreement is the same kind of document you would normally print, but prepared and signed electronically. The tenant receives the agreement, reads it on their phone or laptop and signs it electronically. The signed copy is kept with the tenant’s records, so you can refer to it whenever you need to.
Recurrent includes AI-assisted digital tenancy agreements with e-signing. The AI assistance helps you put together a draft faster, using details such as the property, the rent and the lease dates. You stay in control throughout: you review and edit the agreement before sending it for signature.
Are electronic signatures valid in Nigeria?
This is the question landlords ask most. Nigeria’s Evidence Act 2011 recognises electronic records and electronic signatures, so a document is not ruled out simply because it was signed electronically rather than on paper. However, every tenancy is different, and tenancy rules can also differ from state to state.
Our advice is simple: have a lawyer review your agreement template before you start using it, and seek advice on any unusual arrangement. This article is general information, not legal advice, and it cannot predict how any particular agreement will be treated if a dispute arises.
What to include in your tenancy agreement
Whether paper or digital, a clear agreement usually covers:
- The names of the landlord and tenant, and the property address.
- The lease start and end dates.
- The rent amount, for example ₦2,400,000 per year, and when it is due.
- Any caution or security deposit and the conditions for its refund.
- Service charge and what it covers.
- Responsibilities for repairs and maintenance.
- Rules on subletting, alterations and use of the property.
- Notice periods and the process for renewal or termination.
Your lawyer can advise on wording that suits your property and its location.
How e-signing speeds up letting
Once your template has been reviewed, e-signing removes much of the waiting:
- Tenants can sign on the same day they are approved, wherever they are.
- You avoid printing, scanning and travelling to collect signatures.
- Starting each agreement from the same reviewed wording reduces the risk of important clauses being left out.
- Signed agreements sit with the tenant’s records, alongside lease dates and deposits.
Because the agreement lives with the rest of the tenancy in Recurrent, it connects naturally with the next steps: verifying the tenant’s identity with KYT, issuing the first rent invoice and setting up payment reminders.
A simple letting workflow
If you are moving from paper to digital, this order of steps keeps things tidy:
- Have a lawyer review your standard tenancy agreement.
- Verify the incoming tenant’s identity.
- Prepare the agreement with the tenant’s details and check it carefully.
- Send it for e-signing and keep the signed copy on record.
- Issue the rent invoice and let reminders handle future due dates.
Following the same steps for every tenant also makes your lettings easier to hand over to a property manager, because the process does not live only in your head.
Let faster, with clearer records
Digital tenancy agreements do not replace good legal advice, but they do remove the delays and lost paperwork that slow down letting. With a reviewed template, careful checks and e-signing, you can move good tenants in sooner and keep a clean record of what was agreed. To try AI-assisted agreements and e-signing, see Recurrent for rentals or create your account.
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