The Lagos State Government has urged residents to report landlords and property agents who demand rent payments exceeding one year, reaffirming its commitment to promoting fair and affordable housing practices across the state.
Speaking on Thursday during a live appearance on ‘YOUR VIEW,’ a programme on TVC, Barakat Bakare, the Special Adviser on Housing to the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), said the government is determined to curb excesses within the property rental sector.
Bakare noted that under the current framework, no landlord or agent is allowed to demand more than one year’s rent in advance, and called on residents to help enforce this by lodging complaints with LASRERA.
“The minimum you can collect is one month’s rent. You can collect quarterly, every three months or a year, but nothing more than a year,” she said.
“If we find the landlord wanting to collect more than one year, they can be reported to the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority at Block 21, First Floor in Alausa.”
Okay.ng reports that Bakare also revealed the tenancy law in Lagos is under review, with particular focus on regulating caution fees — a contentious issue that has caused friction between tenants and property owners.
She encouraged residents to report infractions either by visiting LASRERA’s office or submitting complaints online via the agency’s official website. She added that enforcement will be followed by investigation and sanctions where applicable.
According to her, the government is engaging directly with landlords, real estate associations, and developers to find common ground on rental pricing, improve transparency, and ensure Lagosians are not overburdened in the current economic climate.
“Times are hard. We are not here to make life harder for Lagosians. We are sitting with landlords, looking for a middle ground, and doing everything we can to make housing more humane and accessible,” Bakare said.
She also urged Lagos residents to verify the registration status of any agent or developer before signing agreements, noting that many fraudulent operators exploit unsuspecting tenants.
Bakare stressed that allocations for state-owned housing projects are guided by strict, transparent criteria, and cautioned against misinformation regarding public housing availability.
“There is a clear difference between the responsibilities of lawyers and agents in property transactions,” she added.
