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 Plateau 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.
The law: recovery-of-premises legislation Plateau State follows the traditional graduated notice framework. Jos remains a popular and affordable rental market in the North-Central region. Disputes go to the Magistrates’ Courts in Plateau 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 Plateau State will want to see.