EKITI GOVERNMENT WARNS AGAINST EXCESSIVE HOUSE RENT INCREASES
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By: Muftau Fatimo
The Ekiti State Government has cautioned landlords and estate agents against imposing exorbitant house rents, particularly in cities and communities with tertiary institutions, describing the trend as an increasing burden on tenants.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Mortgage Development, Dr Gboyega Oloniyo, said the high and unjustifiable rents being charged in some areas were unacceptable to the state government.
Oloniyo made the remarks on Friday in Iyin-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, during a one-day sensitisation programme organised by the state government.
The programme, themed, “Connecting Estate Agents and Making Accommodation Accessible to All,” was aimed at promoting greater access to affordable accommodation and encouraging responsible practices among landlords and estate agents.
He hinted at the government’s plan to regulate rents and establish a rent tribunal for sanity, while addressing a gathering comprising community leaders, landlords, rent agents and other stakeholders in the state.
The special adviser, who urged landlords and estate agents to charge rent responsibly towards maintaining a decent society, harped on the need for them to “partner with government by reviewing rent levels, improving housing standards and prioritising residents’ welfare.”
He said, “We are not unmindful of the cost of building materials and the fact that people should reap where they sow. But government will not tolerate excess, particularly in the areas of activities of agents in the state whereby they put exorbitant charges on house rent.”
Oloniyo described the forum as a way to make accommodation more affordable for Ekiti residents, saying, “We need to carry people along, we need to let them know that the government’s move is not targeted at home ownership. We are not going to erode anybody’s rights here, the most important thing is to ensure tenants have value for money.”
The Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye, assured that the community would cooperate with the government while calling for guidelines of operation.
Oba Ajakaye, represented by the Odofiyin, Chief Ayodeji Esan, said that the town would interface with the landlords and estate agents in the community to form a common front.
The Chairman, Real Estate Agents in Ekiti State, Mr Oluwasanmi Adeeko, noted that their association did not support arbitrary rent increments and assured of their readiness to work with the government.
Adeeko said, “As an association, we are ready to cooperate with the state government, we believe that government is looking for ways to make life comfortable for the people of Ekiti. My advice to our members is that government has said what it wants to do to make life comfortable for residents.”
Participants at the meeting called for the establishment of a task force, the development of a rent regulation framework and the accreditation of estate agents. They also urged the government to construct residential hostels for students across tertiary institution campuses.
The calls followed a sharp increase in house rents in communities hosting tertiary institutions across the state, including Ado-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti, Iyin-Ekiti, Ilawe-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti and Ikole-Ekiti.
In response to the rising rents, the state government has held similar stakeholders’ meetings in some of the affected communities as part of efforts to protect the interests of students and staff of tertiary institutions, who are largely affected by the rent increases.
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