Rent Commission Extortion: Oyo Residents Groan Under Exorbitant Charges As Government Moves To Curb Agents’ Excesses
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN – RESIDENTS of Oyo State have decried what they describe as crippling and exploitative practices by house agents, calling on the state government to prioritise affordable housing and urgently regulate rent-related charges across the state.
House seekers in Ibadan and other parts of the state lament that agents who act as intermediaries between landlords and prospective tenants often impose excessive and arbitrary charges that significantly inflate the actual cost of rent. In many cases, these agents reportedly earn more from a single transaction than the property owners themselves.
Findings revealed that many individuals operating as house agents are not professionally trained but have become self-acclaimed agents due to economic hardship. These agents allegedly impose multiple fees, sometimes amounting to over 100 per cent of the actual rent, leaving tenants financially strained.
A resident of New Akala Road, Elebu, Ibadan, Mrs Mosun Akinola, shared her experience after relocating to a three-bedroom apartment that cost her ₦2.3 million.
“There is no difference between this apartment and my former one in terms of facilities. I only needed to change environment to be closer to my children’s school,” she said.
She appealed to the government for intervention, adding, “We are also contributing to the economy of this state. The government should help us by providing affordable housing and saving us from the exploitation of these agents.”
Another resident, Mr David Folli, who lives in the Apata area of Ibadan, lamented sudden rent increments allegedly imposed by agents without proper notice.
“I rented my three-bedroom apartment for ₦250,000 in 2023, but now I am being asked to pay nothing less than ₦1.2 million. This increment is purely the handiwork of the agent,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Oluwaseun Olawale, who rented a two-bedroom apartment in the Alakia area for ₦1.8 million, disclosed that the actual rent was ₦800,000, while additional charges and agent fees accounted for the remaining amount.
In response to growing public outcry, the Oyo State Government has taken steps to address the issue by engaging key stakeholders in the housing sector. A meeting was recently held with members of the Estate Rent and Commission Agents Association to find lasting solutions to rising cases of rent and commission extortion.
Speaking during the meeting, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Akin-Funmilayo Williams, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting tenants and sanitising the housing sector.
While noting that the government cannot dictate rent charged by property owners, the commissioner emphasised that the activities of house agents can be regulated by law.
“This is why we invited the association to rub minds and develop solutions to this problem,” he said.
He also referenced a trending media report which falsely attributed comments on high rent to him, adding that the Oyo State House of Assembly had similarly debated the issue and was considering legislation to regulate agents’ activities.
According to him, stakeholder input would guide the House of Assembly’s deliberations to ensure any law enacted reflects practical realities within the sector.
“Enforcement can only take place when there is a law in place. Without a law, enforcement is not possible,” he stressed.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Oyo State Estate Rent and Commission Agents Association, Hon. Okekunle Mutahir, commended the state government, noting that improved security had encouraged more people to settle in Oyo State.
He admitted that inspection fees had become an avenue for extortion by some agents but disclosed that the association abolished the practice in early January last year.
He urged the government to support the association in flushing out unscrupulous elements.
Earlier, the Oyo State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin, pledged to tackle the menace of excessive rent commissions.
Speaking at a meeting with youth organisations at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, the Speaker expressed concern over the rising rate of extortion by house agents and its impact on residents’ access to housing.
He announced plans to set up a committee to draft a bill regulating the activities of house agents, assuring that the proposed legislation would be passed and forwarded to Governor Seyi Makinde for assent before the end of the first quarter of the year.
“This bill will demonstrate how serious the House is in addressing the menace of extortion. It will protect residents and restore sanity to the housing sector in Oyo State,” the Speaker declared.