In response to rising housing costs in Lagos, the state government has reiterated its warning to landlords and agents against charging tenancy agreement fees exceeding the legally stipulated 10 percent of annual rent.
Speaking during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, emphasized the administration’s commitment to curbing exploitative practices in the housing sector.
“We continue to receive complaints about unscrupulous individuals imposing outrageous fees on tenants,” she said. “We urge residents not to remain silent. Report such landlords and agents to us government cannot be everywhere at once.”
Odunuga-Bakare reaffirmed that Lagos State tenancy laws place a strict 10 percent cap on agreement fees and called on all stakeholders to comply with this provision. She added that many of the violations come from unregistered agents who operate outside of professional regulatory bodies.
“In our engagements with registered real estate associations, they've assured us that those involved in these practices are not members,” she explained. “We are working closely with these associations to enforce compliance.”
Addressing broader issues in the housing sector, Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, announced that the government is considering alternative rent payment models including monthly and quarterly options to ease the financial burden on residents.
“Many Lagosians struggle with lump-sum annual payments,” he noted. “We believe more flexible rent plans will bring significant relief.”
While Lagos, like several other Nigerian states, grapples with a significant housing deficit, the government maintains that it is actively working to mitigate the crisis through policy reform and stakeholder engagement.
