Get your full deposit back.
Right now your deposit sits in your landlord's account, and getting it back can be a fight. We hold it for you instead — in a protected account your landlord can't touch — and pay it straight back when you move out. If there's a disagreement over deductions, a neutral team settles it.
Deposit Protection Certificate
SD-DPC-04821
- Tenant
- Olivia Banwo
- Property
- 17 Sandpiper Road, Lagos
- Deposit
- ₦250,000
- Tenancy
- 01 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2026
Protected by
ShieldDeposit13.5M
Active Nigerian tenancies
₦3.6tn
Sitting in deposits with no protection
10 days
From agreement to money in your bank
100%
Of deposits kept in protected escrow
How it works
How it works (it's short)
Protect
Your landlord or agent registers the tenancy, you pay your deposit into ShieldDeposit's escrow account, and your Deposit Protection Certificate lands in your inbox the same minute. Now there's proof, in writing.
Live in your home
That's it — just live. Your deposit stays locked in a protected account the whole time you're renting. We don't release a kobo to anyone who isn't owed it.
Move out and get it back
Leave the place as you agreed and your full deposit is on its way to your bank within ten working days. Can't agree on deductions? Send us the evidence, your landlord does too, and a neutral team decides.
Why ShieldDeposit
Built around how Nigerians actually rent.
Your money, kept separate
Your deposit sits with a regulated escrow partner, in an account that's separate from your landlord's. They can't spend it. Neither can we.
Proof you can hold
The moment your deposit is protected, you get a Deposit Protection Certificate. Share it, save it — and anyone can confirm it's genuine with the certificate number.
Back within ten working days
Once both sides agree, your money heads to your bank within ten working days. No chasing. No 'come back next week.'
A fair referee when you need one
If you and your landlord can't agree, an independent team reads both sides' evidence and makes a written decision. Your money stays put until they do.
Works on any phone
Do the whole thing over WhatsApp, or dial a short USSD code from the most basic phone. Nothing to download.
Everyone's who they say they are
BVN/NIN checks confirm the person on the other side is real — so tenants and landlords are both covered.
Choose your path
Whichever side you're on.
Why we built this
"Too many Nigerians treat losing their deposit as normal. It isn't. We built ShieldDeposit so getting your money back is the default, not the exception."
— Michael Banwo Aderemi, Founder
FAQ
Questions people actually ask.
Is my money really safe?+
Yes — and not just because we say so. Your deposit is held in a separate, ring-fenced account with our regulated banking partner. It never mixes with your landlord's money or ours, so nobody can dip into it.
What does it cost?+
One small flat fee when you protect a deposit — not a percentage of your money. The exact figure is on our Pricing page.
What if my landlord refuses to refund me?+
You open a dispute from your account. You both upload your evidence, and our neutral team makes a written decision. The whole time, your money stays in escrow — your landlord can't touch it.
Do I need a smartphone?+
No. You can do everything over WhatsApp, or with a short USSD code on the most basic phone.
Your deposit. Your right. Your protection.
It takes about three minutes to protect your first deposit. Do it before you hand your landlord a single Naira.