The Deposit I Inherited With a Signature Nobody Explained
A hurried handover made one signature look like a promise to pay for an old leak.
When I moved into an upstairs room in Ibadan, the outgoing tenant, Chuka, asked me to pay his ₦180,000 deposit directly so he could leave quickly. The agent stood beside us and said we would sort the paperwork later. Three months on, a pipe leak peeled the wall, and the agent demanded that I repaint before any deposit discussion. Chuka’s WhatsApp message said the deposit covered ‘whatever they agree,’ while the agent produced a handwritten note bearing my signature for ‘all existing charges.’ I remember signing beside a noisy generator during key handover, but not seeing that phrase. Now Chuka wants his deposit and the agent wants my money.
The question before the court
Who should carry the cost when a rushed tenant handover was unclear?
- Make the agent prove repainting was part of the handover.
- Pay for damage after separating the old leak from my use.
- Split the disputed amount because everyone created confusion.
- Return the deposit to Chuka and end the informal arrangement.
The final judgment
No verdict could be reached because no valid votes were cast.
- Make the agent prove repainting was part of the handover.: 0 valid votes, 0%
- Pay for damage after separating the old leak from my use.: 0 valid votes, 0%
- Split the disputed amount because everyone created confusion.: 0 valid votes, 0%
- Return the deposit to Chuka and end the informal arrangement.: 0 valid votes, 0%
0 valid votes. Final, server-validated record.
Community opinion, not legal advice.