The Oyo State Government has initiated stakeholder engagements with estate agents as part of efforts to address rising rent, curb commission excesses, and sanitise the housing sector across the state.
The move was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, following a meeting between government officials and the Estate Rent and Commission Agents’ Association.
According to the statement, the engagement is aimed at protecting tenants from exploitative practices while creating a regulatory framework that promotes fairness and professionalism within the real estate sector.
The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, who led the government delegation, said the administration was concerned about increasing complaints over rent hikes, excessive inspection fees, and arbitrary charges imposed by some agents.
Akin-Funmilayo explained that while the government does not intend to fix rent prices charged by property owners, it has the constitutional responsibility to regulate practices that negatively affect residents.
He noted that the Oyo State House of Assembly had recently debated the issue and signalled plans to enact a law regulating the activities of estate agents in the state.
“As a government, we believe regulation is necessary. However, it is important that practitioners in the sector contribute meaningfully to the process so that any law enacted is practical, enforceable, and fair to all parties,” he said.
The commissioner urged the association to submit clear proposals on acceptable commission rates, inspection charges, and ethical standards, which would be reviewed and forwarded to the House of Assembly to guide legislative action.
Responding, the association’s chairman, Mr Mutahir Okekunle, commended the state government for engaging stakeholders rather than imposing unilateral decisions. He acknowledged that some agents had engaged in unprofessional conduct, particularly through excessive inspection fees used to exploit accommodation seekers.
Okekunle assured the government of the association’s readiness to collaborate in flushing out unscrupulous members and strengthening internal discipline to restore public confidence in the profession.
He also called for government support in enforcing compliance and ensuring that only registered and certified agents operate within the state.
The engagement comes amid growing concerns over housing affordability, as rising rents continue to place pressure on low- and middle-income earners across urban centres in Oyo State.
