The caution fee (security deposit) is refundable money — in practice, the most disputed money in Nigerian tenancies. Your protection is written refund terms recorded at the moment of payment. DocOga produces a caution-fee receipt with proper refund terms in about two minutes — free.
Where the agreement is silent, courts in Delta State apply the traditional graduated framework:
| Type of tenancy | Minimum notice to quit |
|---|---|
| Tenant at will | 1 week |
| Monthly | 1 month |
| Quarterly | 3 months |
| Half-yearly | 3 months |
| Yearly | 6 months |
Agree the advance in writing in the tenancy agreement before any money moves. In Warri and Asaba, yearly advance is common.
The law: recovery-of-premises legislation Delta State follows the traditional graduated notice framework. Warri and Asaba are the main rental markets. Disputes go to the Magistrates’ Courts in Delta State. This page is general information, not legal advice — confirm the current position for your case with a Nigerian lawyer.
DocOga’s Caution Fee Receipt generator works on your phone: answer simple questions, get a clean, standard Nigerian document. Free version carries a small banner; the Oga Pass (₦2,000/30 days) unlocks unlimited clean copies — all 9 tools.
Create your caution-fee receipt free →No — it is a refundable security deposit held against damage or unpaid charges. It is not the landlord’s income.
Commonly a fraction of the rent, but it is negotiable — record whatever you agree in the tenancy agreement and receipt it.
Your receipt with written refund terms, plus your move-in condition record, is exactly what the Magistrates’ Courts in Delta State will want to see.