A Nigerian lady has recently stirred up online discussions after sharing the list of strict rules and regulations her landlord imposed on all his tenants.
The young woman, identified on TikTok by the username @ajoke_pairs, posted a photo of the neatly typed and numbered 12 rules, expressing her frustration and pleading for leniency. In the post, she conveyed how these rules felt overwhelming and unreasonable, especially with how detailed and rigid they were. She captioned the photo with a shocked “Small small biko 😩,” suggesting that the landlord’s guidelines were too strict and unnecessary, but also with a sense of humor that caught the attention of many viewers. The post quickly went viral, gaining a lot of reactions from TikTok users. Some found the rules understandable, while others felt they were overly demanding for tenants to follow.
The landlord’s regulations cover a wide range of tenancy aspects, with some focusing on cleanliness, noise control, and guest policies, while others outlined specific maintenance tasks that tenants are required to perform in order to ensure the property remains in good condition. Many of the rules appear to be detailed and aimed at keeping the compound in order, though some tenants feel they may be too controlling and invasive. Among the rules are clear instructions on responsibilities, such as washing the toilet every two days, ensuring no damage is done to the property, and avoiding excessive noise. Here are the full 12 regulations the landlord expects tenants to follow:
Landlord’s rules to his tenants
Clean the environment.No fighting in the house.
You have two months before paying.
Any damage should be restored.
Do not switch on the generator in the midnight.
Wash the toilet after 2 days of using it.
Switch off the gas after use.
Do not leave food while cooking.
Do not steal anything in the house.
Do not bring any other person into the house without the consent of the landlord.
Loud music should not be played in the compound so as not to disturb others.
Nothing should be changed in the house.
The tenant, visibly frustrated, shared her feelings on TikTok, captioning her post with the words “Small small biko 😩”, which quickly resonated with other users who saw the strictness of the rules as excessive. Her post has since gone viral, garnering numerous reactions from TikTok users. Some were amused by the rigid expectations, while others questioned the fairness of the rules. For instance, one social media user, Marvelous Ike, who lives in a rented apartment, criticized the landlord's rules and shared his thoughts on how unrealistic some of them were. He commented: "Na this is too much. I can’t live in such a building. Why will you tell me when to wash my toilet? When it’s not face me I face you I rented. It’s absurd for real."
On the other hand, another TikTok user with the handle @1328828728282 defended the landlord, suggesting that the strict rules might be necessary due to experiences with irresponsible tenants. They remarked: “Some go say the landlord own too much but una no go understand on till una build una own. Some tenants go spoil ur house for you and at the end you won’t be able to do anything.” This sparked further debate among the viewers, with some agreeing that tenants can sometimes damage properties, but others feeling that such tight restrictions were unnecessary and controlling.
The landlord's rules, while specific and structured, seem to have caused quite a stir online, shedding light on the tensions that often exist between landlords and tenants in Nigeria. The viral post has sparked conversations around tenant rights and responsibilities, with a variety of opinions about whether such rules are fair or overly demanding. The debate continues to unfold, and many people are eagerly discussing their thoughts and experiences with similar rules in their own living situations.