The Lagos State government has introduced several measures to protect renters, including the Tenancy Law of 2011, which limits agency and legal fees to 10% of annual rent. It also launched LagosHOMS for affordable housing and set up LASRERA to regulate agents and curb fraud.
Persistent Violations
Despite these efforts, many agents ignore the law, forcing tenants to pay almost double the rent. Analysts blame weak enforcement and a housing deficit that worsens affordability for residents.
Renters’ Ordeals
Chidi Samuel, a single mother in Egbe, paid ₦650,000 for a ₦350,000 apartment after agents added ₦300,000 in fees. Kingsley Chinwendu faced similar exploitation—asked to pay ₦750,000 extra for a ₦3.5 million flat.
If the law were followed, both would have paid far less. Yet, in Lagos’s unregulated rental market, tenants remain the biggest victims.
By: Chuka Uroko
