“Hello, Mr. Vincent! Hello Bisi, I hope you are fine? Sir, I am not fine, to be honest. What’s the problem, Mr. Bisi? Sir, I just got back from work to find out that my entire bedroom is flooded. Sir, it rained heavily in Lekki all day. Apparently, part of the roof in my bedroom is leaking. Sir, I don’t even know how to even start evacuating the water. Please Sir, you really have to fix this leaking roof as soon as possible. Don’t worry Bisi, I will send my lawyer managing the property to take up the issue. I am really sorry to hear this.”
Two weeks later, Bisi became worried that the roof had not been fixed. He sent a WhatsApp message to Mr. Vincent his landlord to remind him of his promise to fix the roof. Mr. Vincent simply responded with “yes” emoji.
One week later, Emeka came visiting at Bisi’s apartment in Lekki Phase 1. “My man Bisi, what’s up now? My guy, I am okay. How’s your law practice going? My brother practice is fine, asides the usual stress at the office. Emeka, I need your candid professional advice. Go ahead Bisi. See ehn my landlord has refused to fix the leaking roof in my bedroom despite several requests from me. How can I be paying #2.5 million per year in an apartment and still have to endure a leaking roof? How? Relax Bisi. Would you let me handle the issue for you? I am sure your landlord will do the needful once my firm gets involved. Thanks, bro. I can’t wait for a positive outcome.”
After two weeks, Bisi received a call from Emeka. “Barrister, what’s up? My man Bisi I am good oh! That your landlord has not responded to our letter requesting him to fix your leaking roof. Emeka, what do we do now? Hmmm, I suggest you seek his consent to fix it and ask for a refund or request that the expenses should be deducted from your next rent. So you will just pay rent less the expenses. Bisi immediately sent a WhatsApp message to his landlord. Mr. Vincent. Mr. Vincent replied “It’s a good idea. Please go ahead. You have my word that all the expenses you incur will be fully refunded on or before the expiration of your current rent.
That’s how Bisi fixed the leaking roof expending the sum of 250,000 Naira.
About two months to the expiration of his current rent, Bisi received a letter from a courier. He opened the letter. It was titled “NOTICE TO QUIT”. What’s this? How? How could Mr. Vincent decide to repay my good with evil? Is it because I asked for a refund? Bisi sent the Notice to Quit to Emeka, his lawyer. Emeka assured Bisi that there’s no need to be upset. He advised Bisi to secure another apartment since his relationship with his landlord was already soured.
After three months, Bisi received a WhatsApp message from Emeka. The message read “Hi, Bisi. We just got judgment in your case against Mr. Vincent, your former landlord. The court agreed with our submission that you’re entitled to compensation of #250,000 which you expended to repair the leaking roof in your former apartment. The court held that you satisfied the legal requirement by notifying the landlord of the damage which was a structural one as soon as the damage occurred. The court further stated that the landlord had a duty to repair. Having given consent to the tenant to repair the leaking roof, the tenant is entitled to compensation. The court was satisfied that you actually carried out the repairs after going through all the photographs of the flooded room, and the receipts for the expenses incurred. So you are #250,000 richer my brother. Thanks, Emeka. I always knew you would deliver.”
So if you find yourself in Bisi’s position as a tenant, you now know what to do. And if you find happen to be in the position of Mr. Vincent, you now know better.
Thanks for reading my story.
