The sharp rise in rents—some areas seeing up to a 100% increase—has put immense pressure on residents across Lagos State, making affordable and decent housing harder to find.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Tenants accuse landlords and agents of exploiting the situation by arbitrarily hiking rents, prompting calls for urgent reforms to tenancy laws and possible sanctions against exploitative practices.

Abimbola Anifowose, a businessman who rented a mini-flat for ₦350,000 in Ogba three years ago, said he was stunned when, in June, his landlord demanded ₦650,000 for renewal and bluntly told tenants unable to pay to vacate. He lamented that despite the steep increase, the building’s borehole had been broken for over a year, forcing tenants to buy water elsewhere.

Abimbola also recounted how, in August 2024, a friend was promised a two-bedroom apartment for ₦700,000, only for the landlord to later demand ₦1.2 million annually when the unit became available.

Reacting to the crisis, the Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), Ibiruke Famakinwa, said the state government is deeply concerned about the situation. She noted that the Lagos State House of Assembly is already reviewing the Tenancy Bill, which has passed second reading, with proposals to cut agency and agreement fees from 20% each to 10% and to curb arbitrary rent hikes.

“The Lagos State government is not happy with the current rent situation,” Famakinwa said. “Some people spend their bonuses and most of their salaries on rent. Yes, the cost of building materials has gone up, but what about those who built 10 or 20 years ago still charging as though they just built yesterday? The Assembly is already working to regulate agreements, rents, and landlord–tenant relations.”

She added that LASRERA has been running public campaigns across Lagos, placing signboards to educate residents that agent and agreement fees should not exceed 10% each. “Even during these campaigns, we hear people lament that rent issues have gotten out of hand,” she said. “I cannot promise anything now, but the government is working on it.”

In a separate interview, real estate consultant and property manager Engineer Emmanuel Johnson shed light on the complexities of the rental market. He explained that while customarily agents charge 10% for agreements and another 10% for agency fees—with an optional 5% for damages—many landlords and agents demand far higher rates, often citing what previous tenants paid.

Johnson noted that some tenants, out of desperation, agree to these inflated fees, further fueling the rent surge. “We often advise landlords to consider the age and condition of their buildings when fixing rent, but many insist on their rates,” he said. “Some landlords tell us plainly that we are only hired to manage, not to dictate prices. If some tenants are willing to pay 20% in fees, we are forced to comply.”

On the proposed tenancy reforms, Johnson called the government’s effort a step in the right direction but warned of resistance from landlords, many of whom built their properties without state support. “Some landlords may decide not to rent out their properties at all if they feel rent controls are unfair,” he explained. “We have seen attempts in the past—effective at first—but over time, enforcement weakened.”

Despite these challenges, both government officials and industry stakeholders agree that urgent action is needed to address Lagos’ growing rental crisis, which is squeezing tenants and distorting the housing market.

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