The Lagos State Government says it is ready to curtail the collection of excessive tenancy agreement fees and declared its commitment to enforcing the legally approved maximum charge of 10 percent of the annual rent.
Declaring this position, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barrister Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, spoke during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
Odunuga-Bakare noted that the Lagos State Tenancy Law clearly stated that landlords or agents must not demand more than 10 percent of the annual rent as agreement or legal fees.
Any demand exceeding this limit, she said, is a violation of the law.
“We’ve received a disturbing number of complaints from residents about exploitative practices by some landlords and agents,” she said. “Many of these fees are outrageous and unaffordable. We want Lagosians to know that they have the right to say no to such charges and to report these illegalities.”
She acknowledged that Lagos, as a rapidly growing city facing significant rural-to-urban migration, is dealing with serious housing challenges. Unfortunately, she added, some unscrupulous individuals are taking advantage of the situation to exploit vulnerable residents.
Odunuga-Bakare assured the public of the government’s unwavering commitment to cleaning up the real estate sector.
She said proactive steps are being taken to ensure that Lagosians are protected from housing-related fraud and unfair practices.
According to her, the government had been working closely with registered associations of real estate agents and they associations distanced themselves from such illegal practices.
“They’ve made it clear that those involved in these violations are mostly unregistered agents who are not affiliated with any professional body,” she noted.
Residents who are subjected to illegal tenancy charges are urged to report such cases to the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) through its official social media handles, including:
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