Virety Unveils 360° Property-Viewing Technology to Curb Rental Scams in Africa

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Nigerian geo-hospitality startup, Virety, has launched an innovative 360-degree property-viewing technology aimed at restoring trust and transparency in Africa’s online real estate and short-let markets.

The new “experience-before-you-reserve” system allows potential renters and guests to explore apartments and short-let properties in immersive 360° detail — virtually walking through rooms, assessing layouts, and inspecting amenities before making reservations.

Nigeria’s housing market has seen rapid digital growth, but also a surge in online rental scams and property misrepresentation. Recent studies show that 61 percent of Nigerian renters report discrepancies between listed properties and what they eventually find on site.

To bridge this credibility gap, Virety’s technology offers a secure, user-friendly platform for both hosts and guests. It includes a two-point verification process to confirm user identities and a property verification system that authenticates listings for accuracy and credibility.

“Trust is central to service delivery in today’s market,” said Olayinka Olamilehin, Founder and CEO of Virety. “We built Virety to give users confidence in what they see online and to eliminate the ‘what you ordered versus what you got’ experience.”

Research from the African Journal of Business & Technology supports the use of visual tools in property marketing, revealing that agencies using 3D or virtual tours close deals faster and with fewer site visits.

Virety’s approach is already showing results. Its 360° imagery project for Bracha Restaurant in Abuja boosted the restaurant’s Google visibility from zero to over 18,000 views.

Beyond rentals, Virety’s virtual technology also serves industries like hospitality, tourism, and education, helping businesses showcase their spaces authentically. The company also trains aspiring 360° photographers to expand digital literacy and promote transparency within Africa’s property ecosystem.

Industry analysts note that as Nigeria’s short-let and hospitality sectors continue to grow—particularly in Lagos—trustworthy digital platforms like Virety are becoming indispensable.