Hiring guide · Last updated August 10, 2026
How to hire a plumber in Lagos
Most bad plumbing jobs in Lagos go wrong in the first ten minutes — before anyone touches a pipe. The fault is never named, the quote is one lump sum, and money changes hands too early. This guide covers how to vet a plumber, what a fair quote looks like, and how to pay so the repair has to actually work first.
The short answer
Have the fault named before the price. Get labour and materials quoted separately. Test the repair yourself, then pay. On OyaLink every plumber's government ID is reviewed and approved before their listing can go live, and payment is only completed once you confirm the job is done.
Browse verified plumbers in Lagos5-point vetting checklist
- 1
Ask for the plumber's verified OyaLink profile
Every plumber listed on OyaLink passes government-ID review before their listing can be published, so the name and face you see on the profile is the person who shows up. Ask an off-platform plumber for the same: a photo of their ID plus a working phone number you can call back.
- 2
Get the fault diagnosed before agreeing a price
A leaking pipe under the sink and a failed pressure pump are hours apart in labour. Ask the plumber to name the fault and the parts needed before you talk money — that single question filters out guesswork pricing.
- 3
Split labour and materials in the quote
Materials (PPR pipe, elbows, tap cartridges, a new cistern kit) should be listed separately from labour. It lets you buy the parts yourself if the mark-up looks heavy, and stops the 'the price changed' conversation halfway through.
- 4
Agree who pays for a second visit
Plumbing jobs commonly need a return trip once a part arrives. Settle up front whether the callback is included — most reputable Lagos plumbers include it within 7 days on the same fault.
- 5
Pay after the work is tested, not before
Run the tap, flush the toilet, check the joint for weeping, then pay. OyaLink's pay-after-service flow holds the payment until you confirm the job is done, so a deposit is never the last you hear from someone.
Common Lagos plumbing jobs, and what to ask
Leaking pipe or joint under a sink
Usually a worn compression joint or cracked PPR elbow. Short job, but ask whether the run behind the wall was checked too — repeated 'leaks' are often one upstream fault.
Fix guide: Leaking pipe under sinkBlocked toilet or slow drain
Plunger and auger work first; a blocked soil stack is a bigger job. If several fittings drain slowly at once, the blockage is shared — don't pay per-fitting.
Fix guide: Blocked toiletLow or no water pressure
Tank level, pump, non-return valve, then pipework — in that order. Ask the plumber to show you which stage failed before a pump is replaced.
Mouldy or damp bathroom walls
Often a hidden leak rather than ventilation. A plumber should trace the source before any tiling or painting is quoted.
Fix guide: Mouldy bathroom wallsWater heater and cistern installs
Ask for the make and warranty of the unit in writing, and confirm who honours the manufacturer warranty if it fails.
Red flags — walk away
⚠️ Full payment demanded before work starts
A materials advance can be reasonable. Full labour up front is not — book through OyaLink so payment only completes when you confirm the job.
⚠️ No fixed address or callback number
If the only contact is a WhatsApp number with no profile and no verified identity, you have nothing to escalate to if the repair fails.
⚠️ Price rises once the wall is open
Legitimate scope changes get re-quoted and agreed before more work happens. Mid-job pressure to pay more is a tactic, not a discovery.
⚠️ Refusal to test the repair with you watching
Every plumbing fix can be demonstrated on the spot. Reluctance usually means the fault was patched, not repaired.
Common questions
How do I find a trusted plumber in Lagos quickly?
Describe the fault on OyaLink and you're matched with plumbers near you whose government ID has already been reviewed and approved before their listing went live. You talk to them on WhatsApp, and payment is only completed after the work is done.
How much does a plumber cost in Lagos?
It depends on the fault, the parts and your area, so ask for a written quote that separates labour from materials rather than accepting a lump sum. Our Lagos home-service pricing guide explains how quotes are normally built up and which line items to question.
Should I buy the plumbing materials myself?
For simple parts — tap cartridges, elbows, a cistern kit — buying them yourself is usually cheaper and removes any mark-up argument. For anything pressure-rated, let the plumber specify the exact part so the warranty stays intact.
What should I check before the plumber leaves?
Run every tap and flush every toilet on the affected line, dry the repaired joint with tissue and watch it for a minute, and check the floor and the wall behind for damp. Only then complete payment.
Are plumbers on OyaLink verified?
Yes. A plumber cannot publish a listing on OyaLink until their government ID has been submitted and approved in our verification review, and the phone number on the profile is confirmed as part of that same approval.
What if the repair fails a few days later?
Agree the callback window before work starts, and keep the conversation on the platform. Bookings made on OyaLink keep a record of the job and the payment, which is what a dispute is resolved from.
Keep reading
- Lagos home-service pricing guide — how quotes are built up across trades.
- Hiring dispatch riders in Lagos — vetting and pay-after-delivery for logistics.
- How OyaLink verifies pros — what ID review actually checks.
Need a plumber in Lagos today?
Describe the fault and get matched with verified plumbers near you. Pay after the repair is done and tested.