The Tenant Who Took the Roof With Them

This piece is part of our International Bizarre Landlord Stories series. Today’s story was first reported in Nigeria.

In Lagos, a landlord was left speechless when he arrived to inspect a property after an eviction notice. The house was still standing but the corrugated iron roof was gone. According to reports, the departing tenant had dismantled the sheets and sold them as scrap, leaving the structure exposed to rain and completely uninhabitable.

The discovery

Neighbours had seen workers on the roof but assumed legitimate repairs were underway. By the time the landlord attended, every sheet had been removed. Water damage had already begun to spread down walls and into electrical fittings, creating hazards and escalating repair costs.

The aftermath

Police were called, but recovery was complicated as the scrap had been sold quickly. The landlord faced significant repair bills and had to move fast to make the building safe. The incident was widely covered in the Nigerian press and provoked heated debate about tenant screening and the limits of landlord protection.

Lessons for landlords

• Check insurance cover. Damage caused deliberately may not be covered by standard landlord policies. Confirm exclusions and consider legal expenses cover.
• Respond quickly to early signs. If a tenant brings in contractors without approval, follow up at once.
• Maintain neighbour contacts. A simple call from a neighbour could prevent costly damage escalating unchecked.
• Document everything. Police reports, photos and contractor invoices strengthen your legal position in any recovery process.

Your experience

What is the most shocking act of tenant revenge you have experienced or heard about. How did you manage the repairs and recovery. Share your stories below to help others prepare.

Series so far

• The Tenant Who Kept a Tiger in a Harlem Apartment
• The Day a Cow Knocked at a Fourth-Floor Flat
• When a Tenant Found a Python in the Toilet
• The Tenants Who Turned a Flat into a Miniature Zoo
• The Room Filled With 200 Bottles of Urine

Background coverage: Punch Nigeria report.

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