How to hire a reliable plumber in Lagos

Get a plumber through someone who has seen their work, agree the job and price in writing, and pay in stages as the work is tested. Here is how.

The safest way to hire a plumber in Lagos is to get one through someone who has seen their work, describe the problem clearly before they come, agree the job and price in writing, and pay in stages as the work is finished and tested. Here is how to handle each step.

Before you call a plumber, describe the problem properly

A plumber can only price a job properly if they know what they are walking into.

Find where the water is coming from. A damp wall behind the bathroom, a dripping tap, a cistern that won't stop running, a blocked sink and low pressure upstairs are different jobs.
Notice when it happens. If the leak only shows when the pumping machine is on, or when the overhead tank is full, say so. That points the plumber to the right pipe.
Take photos and a short video. Send them on WhatsApp before the visit, so the plumber can tell whether it is a small fix or a bigger job.
Know your valves. Find the valve on your tank outlet and the main valve into the house. If water is pouring out, close them and switch off the pumping machine.

If the pumping machine hums but won't push water, or keeps tripping the light, you may need an electrician as well as a plumber.

If you rent, tell the landlord or caretaker in writing before you pay for anything major. Your tenancy agreement may say who handles repairs, and some compounds already have a plumber they use.

Three-storey residential blocks in a Lagos housing estate, with black water tanks on a steel stand between them — Blocks of flats in Abesan Housing Estate, Ipaja, Lagos. In shared buildings, one tank can serve several flats.

Where to find a good plumber in Lagos

Start with people who have seen a plumber's work with their own eyes, not just heard the name.

Neighbours and your estate or residents' WhatsApp group. Ask who fixed their bathroom and whether the job held up months later.
Your landlord, caretaker or facility manager. They know which plumbers come back when a joint leaks again.
The shop where you buy pipes and fittings. Ask the seller which plumber they would send to their own house.
Artisan profiles online. On OgaLanLord's artisan directory you can see photos of past work and reviews from customers before you get in touch.

Questions to ask before you agree

Ask these on the phone or on WhatsApp before anyone comes to the house.

Have you done this kind of job before? Ask for photos of a similar job, or the number of a past customer you can call.
Where did you learn the trade? Many good plumbers learnt as apprentices, others at a technical college. If they mention a trade certificate, ask to see it.
Will you buy the materials or should I? Agree this before the day so no one is sent back to the market halfway through.
How will you test the work? A plumber who plans to run water through the pipes and wait for leaks before leaving is a good sign.
What happens if it leaks again? Ask whether they will come back to fix their own work, and for how long after the job.

Chalk pipe layout drawn on a workshop floor with galvanised elbow fittings and two lengths of pipe laid beside it — A pipe layout marked out with fittings during plumbing training at the Nile Vocational Institute in Jinja, Uganda.

Get a written quote, and know how the price is made up

A quote on WhatsApp counts, and it gives you both something to point to later. Prices vary with the job, the area and the materials, so instead of chasing a "normal price", make sure you understand what you are paying for:

Call-out or inspection fee. Some plumbers charge for coming to look, and some take it off the final bill if you give them the job. Ask before the visit.
Labour. Usually quoted for the whole job. For bigger work, ask how many days it will take and how many people.
Materials. Ask for a list with quantities and the grade of pipes and fittings. The cheapest fittings are often the ones that leak first. If the plumber buys them, ask for the receipts.
Transport and extras. Moving materials, breaking and repairing tiles, or plastering a wall after a pipe is changed may be extra. Ask if they are included.

For anything bigger than a small repair, get two or three quotes for the same job. If one is far below the others, ask what is missing from it.

Pay in stages, not everything upfront

For a small repair, pay when the work is done and tested. For a bigger job, such as re-piping a bathroom or connecting a new tank, agree the stages first: materials money against receipts, then the labour balance after the work passes your checks.

Pay by bank transfer rather than cash so there is a record, and make sure the account name matches the person you are dealing with. Keep the transfer receipts and the WhatsApp chat with the quote.

If you hire through OgaLanLord, you can make a booking or a job. A booking is a free scheduling request, and you agree payment directly with the artisan. A job is protected by escrow: you fund it, OgaLanLord holds the money, the artisan submits proof of the work, and you approve it to release payment or raise a dispute if something is wrong.

You can split a job into stages, so each part is paid only when you approve it. If you neither approve nor dispute before the deadline on the job page, payment is released automatically, so check the work in time. Jobs carry a platform service fee, shown before you pay. See how hiring and escrow work.

On the day: check the work before you pay

Run the water from the tank (switch on the pumping machine if you need to) and watch every joint the plumber touched.
Leave a dry tissue under new joints for an hour or two. A damp tissue shows a slow leak that is easy to miss by eye.
Open every tap in the room and flush the toilet. The cistern should fill and stop on its own.
Ask to see the old parts that were replaced.

If something isn't right, say so before the final payment, and send a photo or video on WhatsApp so there is a record.

Warning signs

They ask for full payment before they have seen the problem.
Every small fault becomes "we have to change everything".
They want payment into an account in someone else's name, with no clear reason.
They push you to decide on the spot, or disappear when you ask for a past customer's number.

Questions people ask

What should I do while I wait for an emergency plumber?

Close the tank outlet valve and the main valve, switch off the pumping machine, and if water is near sockets or extension boxes, switch off the power at the main switch on your distribution board. Then take photos for your landlord.

Can I hire a plumber for my parents' house while I'm abroad?

Yes. Ask for photos and a short video at each stage, and pay in a way that releases money only when you approve the work, such as an escrow job on OgaLanLord.

Find a plumber or another artisan

Browse artisan profiles on OgaLanLord to compare past work and reviews, and contact the ones that fit your job. If you own or manage a property, you can also list your property on OgaLanLord. Every listing is reviewed by our team before it goes live, including a call to the owner or agent.

Photos: cover, "Leaking PVC Pipe Under Sink - P Trap" by Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons; Abesan Housing Estate by Addjimedu (CC0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons; plumbing training in Jinja by Owobusingye (CC BY 4.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.