1. Decide what you need
Before you look at a single listing, write down three things.
- Budget: a realistic monthly rent, in F CFA. Prices on our listings are quoted in F CFA.
- Location: close to your work, to schools, to the airport or to the sea. See our guide to the neighbourhoods of Cotonou.
- Equipment: number of bedrooms, air conditioning, internet, a fitted kitchen, parking and security.
2. Choose where to search
Start with the listings of a local agency such as ours, because every property is visited by our team before it is published. You can also write to the agency directly on WhatsApp and describe what you are looking for.
3. Visit the apartment, even from abroad
If you are not in Cotonou, ask for a visit on a WhatsApp video call. We walk through the apartment with you at a time that suits you in your time zone. Ask us to show these points:
- The general condition of walls, floors, windows and doors.
- Water pressure, electricity and what happens during a power cut.
- Air conditioning, the fridge, the cooker and the water heater: ask to see them running.
- Internet and TV, and which provider serves the building.
- The street, the noise, the neighbours and the security of the area, in daytime and, if possible, in the evening.
4. Read the lease and check who you are renting from
- Read the whole lease: duration, monthly rent, deposit and what is included (electricity, water, internet).
- Ask to see a document proving that the person renting out the apartment is entitled to do so.
- Do a detailed inventory of the apartment and its furniture with the owner or the agency, with photos, to avoid any disagreement when you leave.
5. Negotiate
The rent and the conditions can often be discussed. If you need flexibility, negotiate the length of the lease. Clarify in writing which charges are included. An agency negotiates on your behalf and knows what rents are realistic in each neighbourhood.
6. Sign and pay
- Sign the lease in the presence of the owner or the agent.
- Pay the first month and any deposit by a traceable method, and keep a written receipt.
- Keep a copy of the signed lease and of the inventory.
7. Move in
Do the entry inventory on the day you receive the keys, and note anything that is not working. If you need internet or cable, set it up in the first days. Then make the place your own.