NewStats: 3,259,265 , 8,169,682 topics. Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025 at 03:11 PM 2j4h5l

What We Pay Monthly Here Is Higher Than Our Annual Rent In Nigeria’

Nigerians who recently relocated to the United Kingdom (UK) have listed accommodation as the major challenge they are facing in the country.

Other challenges those who spoke with our correspondent listed are getting Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) which will enable them extend their stay, lack of social life and low chances of getting professional jobs which match their qualifications.

Aside that, those who spoke with TheScrutinyNG said “the decision to leave Nigeria for UK, though stressful and financially demanding was worth it, especially when you consider good governance, the quality of life, healthcare, electricity and good start in life for children”.

Ayomide, a mother of two and her husband moved to the UK in January 2023. According to her, they sold their property in Lagos and used the money to finance her schooling and family relocation to Kent in UK.

“It was tough when we arrived. We first stayed in a hotel for few days while looking for accommodation. My husband was frustrated as he was converting naira to buy pounds. After a while, we got an AirbnB apartment where we stayed for two months. Most two bedroom apartments we got, rejected our application because they said my son is 11 and needs to have a separate room. They said he can’t share same room with my daughter”

“After we managed to get a two bedroom apartment, they were asking us to get a guarantor and filled some forms before g the contract. It was a long, arduous process but eventually we concluded and we have settled down to some extent”.

Benjamin Onwe relocated to UK with his wife and three children in September 2023. According to him, he was paying N1.5m as annual rent for a four-bedroom apartment in Surulere area of Lagos.

He said ” Accommodation is a major challenge here in UK. I stay in Plaistow and a three bedroom apartment here ranges between £1,500 to £2,500 monthly . When you convert £1,500 to naira at the current exchange rate on Lemfi, that amounts to N2.7m. So, what we are paying here monthly is higher than our annual rent in Nigeria. Then we also have to furnish the apartment and pay other bills. It was tough but the sacrifice is worth it” he said.

BATTLE WITH MOULD

Another major problem accommodation seekers encounter in UK is houses with mould issues.
Mould is a type of fungus that can grow on walls, ceilings, and floors. It’s often found in damp or leaky buildings, which can lead to respiratory problems some people. Roughly 1 in 5 homes in the UK suffer with condensation damp – the biggest catalyst for mould growth.

Narrating her experience, Alero a single lady who just secured a job in London said she got an apartment in January and started experiencing mould issues in March. She said the mould spread everywhere and attempts to get rid of it through cleaning and usage of chemicals didn’t work.

” After enduring for three months, I wrote to the agency through whom I got the house and asked that they give me a better apartment or refund. They refused and said nothing can be done as I have signed a one year contract which is binding”.

” After seeking professional advice from people, I was told to take pictures of the apartment and report them to the council. That was when they agreed that I can leave. I think the mould is always severe during winter when everywhere is cold. So, someone who got an apartment during summer when the weather is hot may not really know if the house has mould issues or not”.

As a means of reducing pressures on accommodation, transportation, healthcare, public schools and other facilities due to immigration into the country, the UK government, through its Home Office has put in place a law that prohibits Nigerian students, and others studying in the country from bringing family as dependents except under specific circumstances.

Last month, a report by Guardian UK says the number of people being made homeless jumped by 16% in the final three months of 2023, according to the latest government figures, which laid bare the scale of the country’s housing crisis.

“Figures published by the government on Tuesday show nearly 45,000 households in England were assessed as homeless in the three months to December, up from just under 39,000 during the same period in 2022”.

“The figures also show the number of people – including children – in temporary accommodation hit record levels in 2023, triggering warnings of a housing “emergency”.

Mike Amesbury, the shadow minister for homelessness, said: “These stats reveal a growing Tory housing emergency being felt by families in every part of the country. Over the past 14 years, the Tories have taken a wrecking ball to the foundation of a secure home, leaving Britain facing a homelessness epidemic.

“Under this government’s watch, kids are growing up in temporary accommodation, coming home from school to do their homework on the bathroom floor of a hotel room and eating dinner perched on their bed.

https://thescrutinyng.com/index.php/2024/06/08/exclusive-nigerians-in-uk-lament-accommodation-crisis/

Useless BATerians that ed this evil government even hailing the drug lord when he visited UK should return back to Nigeria.

People running away from their country and ing the perpetuation of evil.

There is enough accommodation at Obalende under bridge.

God bless Obidients all over the world.

That one no be talk

Things are cheaper in Nigeria but not available.

Things are available in abroad but expensive

It can be very tough financially and emotionally but it’s worth it. Who wants to come back when the country is burning??

Nigeria as it is cannot guarantee future for people. Senior citizens (65 years and above) are going through hell even with some deposits in their . Zero planning and health care send most of them to early grave unlike in UK where old people receive good healthcare.

This is why WHO put the life expectancy of Nigeria at 55years, especially men who toil day and night.

They keep complaining but don't wanna come back. Idiots

As dem dey complain so. Make dem dey copy THIER prime minister make e for they know.

As if na only Nigerians dey pay rent for UK.

SpecialAdviser:
Useless BATerians that ed this evil government even hailing the drug lord when he visited UK should return back to Nigeria.

People running away from their country and ing the perpetuation of evil.

There is enough accommodation at Obalende under bridge.

God bless Obidients all over the world.

many of u igbos are yet to get over d election loss trauma

It’s unfortunate that with this your attitude to loss, u will keep losing

Ok

Chai..




For me, UK is just overrated.

I don't like the place one bit!!


I rather go to Finland, Poland, Australia, or Canada.

Many foreigners in the UK, especially Blacks, are in catastrophic situations that they were not suffering at home.


It is never like before; they want you to go back to your country.

If it's cheaper,why not come back to Nigeria and stay..den you go no say water and ogogoro no be dsame..

Please tell us what you earn first!

I don’t know how foolish people can be sometimes especially Nigerians abroad! If you want to flex, living abroad alone is a flex!

You have too many good things over there!

Security
Education
Viable laws
Healthcare
Economy
Transportation

Name any sector that works in Nigeria?

Yet you still complain.. Shame on all of you abroad trying to compare with Nigeria. Shame!!

Who send you

Let them come back

Nigerians are all over the world. But you see our brothers and sisters in UK, they talk too much seeking unnecessary attention.

If you're tired there, come back to Nigeria & let everyone rest

Personally, if I was rich or upper middle class income in Nigeria, I won't japa except I am the type of skilled worker the foreign country wants (eg. Health and ICT) . It is the case of the 'cheaper' devil you know is better than the 'expensive' angel you don't know.

K

Stop this comparison. What you pay in the YouKay is also different from Yankee.
Different places, different policy, different economy... so stop comparing these things.

What is the minimum wage in the UK?

I was going to say how senseless the topic is, but after reading through, I am happy they all it it's worth it. In summary, no complaint.

Anytime yhu want to compare there with here, do it in term of value.

You only create a different kind of difficulty for yourself for temporal ease. What you missed is the possibility of sorting life out during the storm and becoming a better individuals as Nigerians, able to withstand tougher times and properly adjusted as time goes on, making more success of your business and enterprise and access to the same foreign country in the nearest future as visitors on business and holiday trips.

That's the other side of the moon you will never see. Your mood will always swing between the two countries.

No wonder UK people no dey ever get money. They no dey send 10k.

America people own na 20k. Those ones no dey send 20k

What you earn in UK nko? Is it more than what you earn annually in Nigeria?

The information on cost of living and everything else was freely available on the internet before you moved!!!

helinues:
That one no be talk

Things are cheaper in Nigeria but not available.

Things are available in abroad but expensive

So what are u saying

bennybuhari:

https://thescrutinyng.com/index.php/2024/06/08/exclusive-nigerians-in-uk-lament-accommodation-crisis/

Are they all back in our country, applying the lessons they learned from the UK on how to make societies better for all

As cheap as commodities may be in Nigeria, the purchasing power of the people is weak. I leant some states in Nigeria are still paying N18,000 as minimum wage, while the national wage is equally nothing to write home about.

How much can you earn daily in the UK on an average?

You are not earning in Naira.
You are earning in Pounds. Please stop converting and pay the money

Texcyndy:
What you earn in UK nko? Is it more than what you earn annually in Nigeria?

Not really the way u see it because expenses will still take d money from u although d peanut u will send back home will be like a big fish but here in UK it's like a coin 🙁.

Come back here then

Is this supposed to be news?