Ekiti govt warns landlords, agents over rising house rents
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Ekiti State Government has warned landlords and estate agents against imposing excessive rents on residents, particularly in communities hosting tertiary institutions.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Mortgage Development, Dr. Gboyega Oloniyo, issued the warning during a sensitisation programme for landlords, estate agents and community leaders in Iyin Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area.
Oloniyo said the government was considering measures to regulate rents and establish a rent tribunal to address what he described as unjustifiable charges and restore sanity to the housing sector.
He urged landlords and agents to cooperate with the government by reviewing rent levels and improving housing standards, stressing that residents should receive value for the money they pay.
According to him, while the government recognised the rising cost of building materials and the need for property owners to recoup their investments, it would not tolerate excessive charges, particularly by agents.
Meanwhile, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeniyi Ajakaye, represented by the Odofiyin, Chief Ayodeji Esan, pledged the community’s support for the initiative and called for clear operational guidelines.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Real Estate Agents in Ekiti State, Oluwasanmi Adeeko, supported the government’s move, saying the association opposed arbitrary rent increases and was ready to collaborate with the authorities.
The government has held similar engagements in Ado Ekiti, Ikere Ekiti, Iyin Ekiti, Ilawe Ekiti, Oye Ekiti and Ikole Ekiti following complaints over rising accommodation costs, with stakeholders calling for rent regulation, accreditation of agents, a monitoring task force and construction of student hostels.
