Housing in Nigeria comes with different strokes for different folks. Freshgistz takes on the complaints, anger and general dissatisfaction of prospective tenants with dubious and unreliable housing agents.
Shelter in Nigeria comes with different stories. While some have it really good and safe, others have been dealt a blow, left to anticipate the lapse of a paid duration.
Why is this? Searching for a house, verification and payment can be a headache for Nigerians. Unfortunately, the narrative has been going on for years now.
Freshgistz gathers some common issues and concerns of house seekers regarding searching for and securing a vacant apartment.
Housing Headaches in Nigeria
1. Inspection/Check Fee
You already know to pay this fee to most housing agents in Nigeria. It is fast becoming the norm and Nigerians are left to face the financial burden.
Checking a vacant house can come with a 1,000 or more fee, with the agent often also insisting on transport assistance too.
What do Nigerians say to this – crazy!
It is pitiful that there is no regulation and these agents don’t seem to have a red line at extortion.
2. Fake Repair Promises
Making fake promises is one of the dubious behaviors of housing agents in Nigeria.
Upon fee collection for basic inspection, they go ahead to lobby their client into liking the apartment and if they don’t, they let them understand that another fee will be necessary to check another vacant house. Win Win for agents.
As though that isn’t enough, repairs and retouches to make for a beautiful and conducive new start will be avoided, and new tenants often bear the cost.
Running to thousands, these repair costs usually run up to a large sum, leaving tenants financially devastated and feeling scammed.
3. Lack of transparency
You are likely to face dishonesty when the total payment is announced.
Usually, housing agents follow a payment pattern that helps to include environment security, waste management and or any necessary joint responsibilities in a compound.
One would expect transparency and have the agents give information as to the division of the bills.
Many eventually find out they hype up the fees without describing or detailing them individually and then expect prospective tenants to just pay and pack in.
4. Exit date
Yes, agreeing on an exit date for an incumbent tenant can be a problem too.
Often, we find that some tenants may have issues vacating an expired rental, thus request for an extension.
These considerations are normal, but they can also cause inconvenience for incoming tenants.
Who should intervene? Housing Agents can do this well, just as they can also ruin your move-in plan.
But lately, move in and move out date issues aren’t often managed well by agents. They are responsible for making sure an apartment is in good shape for the incoming client.
Outgoing tenants should therefore be persuaded to exit in time according to agreements.
Although, realistically, it is not always that easy for agents. These assignments can be overwhelming and only the competent and righteous may be trusted.
How do you know to trust a house agent in Nigeria? We made a checklist so you can avoid the pit of regret.
When looking for an apartment to rent, ensure you observe these factors in your encounter with your housing agent so you don’t get cheated.
If you notice or hear of the agent being persistent and aggressive about any of the below, we advise you deal with caution or find another;
- Inspection fee
- Transport fee
- No detailed total payment package
- Cunning and sugarcoats apartments
- Makes upfront promises of repairs without cost implications
- Takes funny or longer routes to vacancy locations
Moving forward, we remain in the hands of these agents as prices skyrocket and quality and trust of service dwindles.
Can the government intervene? Maybe.
In this regard, the government either on the state or federal level can intervene to create some sort of regulatory association in order to keep a tab on the excesses of housing agents.
What are the chances of an intervention?Interestingly, chances are quite high, seeing that the Federal Government has actively addressed this year, one of many housing issues – cost.
A stakeholders’ meeting followed the government’s alarm at high cost of rent in Feb, 2025.
The increase was a result of high production cost, transportation blows, dependence on imported building materials amongst others.
A call to housing agents or a local or state level intervention will reduce the excesses of these agents and restore the trust lost in the rightheous and honest ones among them.
