Home Sharing and Serviced Apartment Short-Term Rentals: Legal Implications of New Forms of Residential Occupancy in Nigeria

Abstract

Following the advent of vehicle sharing online platforms such as Uber and Bolt, there has been, in recent years in Nigeria, the emergence of home sharing online platforms including Airbnb, Shortlet rentals, and Quickteller Homes which offer home sharing and serviced apartments on short-term rental basis. As a contractual arrangement with economic benefits for both the hosts and the guests, short-term rentals are new forms of residential occupancy that is gaining the preference of a rapidly growing number of patrons in commercial cities across Nigeria. This article examines the legal relationship between parties involved in short-term residential occupancy. In comparison with how the relationship is recognised under common law tenancy in other jurisdictions, this article determines the nature of the relationship under tenancy statutes in Nigeria.

Keywords: Home sharing, Short-term rentals, Occupancy licence, Tenancy, Residential occupancy

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/128-07

Publication date: January 31^st 2023