Frequently asked questions
Finding a home
Do I need an account to browse?
No. Anyone can browse listings. You need an account to save properties, book inspections and rent.
Who is CribAssist for?
Anyone looking for a rental home in Nigeria, including young professionals, people relocating for work or family, and corps members.
Can I search near my workplace or PPA?
You can add your workplace or PPA when you search, and results are matched on the area you enter. Search for areas close to it to find homes nearby.
Verified listings
What does "Verified" mean on a listing?
Every listing is reviewed by CribAssist before it is published, and only approved listings are shown. The Verified badge means the listing has passed our review. It is not a survey of the property or proof of ownership, so we still recommend inspecting before you rent.
What does "Identity Verified" mean for a landlord or property manager?
It means they have verified their identity with a government ID and a live selfie. It is not a background check.
Identity verification
Why do I need to verify my identity?
Verification is required to book an inspection or rent a property. It helps landlords and property managers know who they are dealing with, and helps us keep fraud off CribAssist.
How does it work?
Go to your profile and select Verify my identity. Enter your NIN and take a quick selfie. Our partner Prembly checks your NIN against official records, confirms the selfie is live and compares it with the photo on your record. Most checks are complete within seconds.
What name will my account show?
Your verified name comes from your identity record. If the name on your account is already a shorter form of it — for example, without your middle name — we keep it. After verification, your name can only be changed by contacting us.
My check was unsuccessful. What can I do?
You will see the reason on your profile. Common fixes are taking the selfie yourself, facing the camera, in good light, and checking your NIN. You can try again, or ask for a member of our team to review the decision through Contact & Support.
What do you keep from my ID?
The result, the name on your record and the check scores — never your ID number, your selfie or a copy of any document. See our Privacy Policy.
Inspections
How much does an inspection cost?
₦5,000 per property, paid through CribAssist when you book. Landlords and property managers may not charge you anything extra for an inspection.
When do I get the address?
Listings show only the general area. Once the landlord or property manager confirms your paid booking, the address or meeting point appears with your booking on your dashboard. See the Inspection Policy.
Does booking an inspection reserve the property?
No. Someone else can rent the property before or after your inspection.
Can I cancel or change an inspection?
You can cancel at any time before the inspection, but the fee is not refunded. Rescheduling is not available yet, so please check the time before you pay. You get a full refund if the landlord or property manager declines your booking, does not show you the property, or the listing was seriously misleading. See the Cancellation & Refund Policy.
Costs and fees
What is the move-in cost?
The yearly rent plus every required move-in fee the landlord or property manager has set, such as legal, agreement, caution or service fees. It is shown on the listing before you rent.
Does CribAssist charge renters a fee?
Only the ₦5,000 fee for each inspection you book. For a rental, you pay exactly the rent and required move-in fees shown on the listing — CribAssist adds nothing. Our commission is paid by the landlord or property manager.
What are optional fees?
Fees shown for information only. They are never added to what you pay through CribAssist.
What does "Refundable" mean on a fee?
The fee, such as a caution fee, is paid to the landlord or property manager and should be returned to you at the end of your tenancy under your tenancy agreement.
Renting and payment
Do I need the landlord's approval to rent?
No. If a unit is available and your identity is verified, you can rent it straight away.
What happens when I choose "Rent this property"?
The unit is reserved for you for 30 minutes while you review the total and pay. You are not charged until you pay. If you do not pay in time, the reservation simply ends.
Is my payment safe?
Yes. Payments are processed by Paystack, and we never see your card details. Your rental payment is held by CribAssist until you have the keys and have had time to check the property before it is released to the landlord or property manager.
What is Transaction Protection?
Your payment is held and not released to the landlord or property manager until you have the keys, and then for 48 hours if you inspected the property through CribAssist before paying, or 7 days if you didn't, so you can check the property. If something is wrong, report a problem from your rental page during that time and we will review it. See the Rental & Booking Policy.
Can I pay the landlord directly instead?
Rentals arranged through CribAssist must be paid through CribAssist. Payments made outside CribAssist are not covered by Transaction Protection, and we cannot help recover them.
Refunds
Can I get my rent back?
If you report a problem within the Transaction Protection period and we uphold it, you get a full refund. Changing your mind is not, on its own, a reason for a refund.
How long does a refund take?
Refunds go back to the card or account you paid with, usually within 5 to 10 working days, depending on your bank.
Tenancy and renewal
How long is my tenancy?
12 months, starting on the day you receive the keys. Your start and end dates are on your rental page and your receipt.
Can I renew through CribAssist?
Yes. From 6 months before your tenancy ends, the landlord or property manager can offer a renewal for another 12 months, and you accept and pay on your rental page. If there is no offer yet, you can ask about renewing there. We remind you 90, 60 and 30 days before the end. See the Rental & Booking Policy.
What does a renewal cost?
The new yearly rent shown in the offer, next to your current rent, plus any recurring charges such as a yearly service charge. One-time fees are not charged again and your caution deposit carries over. A rent increase must be offered at least 3 months before your tenancy ends.
What if my landlord won't renew?
We tell you as soon as they decide, so you can plan your next home. That is not a notice to quit: ending a tenancy follows the legal notice process, and CribAssist does not evict anyone.
For landlords and property managers
Who can list a property?
Landlords, and property managers with the owner's authority to let the property.
How do I list a property?
Sign up as a Landlord or Property Manager, create your listing with units, photos, fees and inspection times, and submit it for review. It goes live once approved.
How much does CribAssist charge?
A commission of 8% of the rent paid through CribAssist, or 5% on a renewal, deducted from your payout. There is no commission on move-in fees, and listing is free. See the Landlord & Property Manager Terms.
When do I get paid?
Once the renter's Transaction Protection ends (48 hours after they have the keys if they inspected the property through CribAssist, 7 days if they didn't) with no problem reported, your payout becomes available in your Payouts page, usually within a day. Add your bank account there and withdraw to it by bank transfer.
How do renewals work for me?
Six months before a tenancy ends, we ask whether you will renew. Offer a renewal from the rental page, with the new yearly rent and a date for the renter to respond by; a rent increase must be offered at least 3 months before the end. When the renter pays, we hold the payment until the new tenancy year starts, then pay it out less the 5% renewal commission. See the Landlord & Property Manager Terms.
Is there a signup bonus or referral reward?
Landlord and property manager accounts get a one-time ₦5,000 bonus after their first rental through CribAssist completes. Landlords and property managers can also earn 1% of the yearly rent, up to ₦20,000, when a new lister they invite completes their first rental.