From 536,000 residents to 557,000, Ado Ekiti is experiencing a significant surge in population growth. This influx is attributed to the arrival of investors, visitors, and National Youth Service Corp members (NYSC) who eventually take up residence after completing their service. The resulting population expansion is placing considerable pressure on the available houses in the state.
While this growing demand for housing has become a pressing concern the state government and private enterprises are addressing this challenge through development of new housing estates, renovation of existing infrastructure, and encouragement of public-private partnerships as reported by media.
Notably, the state government has partnered the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) for a comprehensive urbanization and development of Ado-Ekiti, which capture accommodations for residents.
It has been noticed that around the back of Central Bank office, Ado-Ekiti, and to the new Iyin Road axis there is increasing private construction for residents.
Going forward, it takes special individuals called “agents” to connect house seekers to available accomodations in the State. However, this agent role has taken a concerning turn. Instead of facilitating smooth transactions, agents have begun “exploiting” prospective tenants, reports have.
According sources who seek anonymity, “agents are demanding excessive agency fees, unwarranted documentation charges, and illegal commission demands, such as “pay agent fee before you see the house” and if the house is not okay no refunds of payment.
Speaking further, “We the house seekers will have to carter for agent transportation fare to the location of the potential house for rentage, and the problem is that these charges does not concern the agent percentages when eventually paid for”, source laments.
One victim Favour Balogun shared her experience, revealing that she paid an agent for housing services that were never delivered; despite finding an apartment on her own, the agent refused to provide a refund, leaving her with a significant financial loss.
Another individual Joseph Yusuf recounted a similar ordeal. After paying an agent for a specific location, the agent failed to provide the promised accommodation, and subsequently disregarded calls, adding to the victim’s frustration.
A fourth victim reported being taken advantage of by an agent who inflated the cost of a house by over 30% of the original rent, which the source judged excessive demand.
Analyst has that unjustified payments have severe consequences, including increased financial strain on prospective tenants, limited access to affordable housing options, and erosion of confidence in the housing market.
On the Landlords, observation shows that some Landlords in Ado-Ekiti State have been significantly marginalized due to the growing influence of real estate agents. Many agents have secured legal backing, enabling them to dominate the market and overshadow property owners. To solidify their position, these agents have formed a union, further entrenching their control.
In response, the government has raised concerns on the situation; notably in 2023, Dailypost reported that “The Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed a resolution, urging the state government to raise a task force to go after estate agents who impose excessive charges on prospective property buyers and renters.” However, this order is yet to be evident in the street.
Experts suggest that to combat these issues, the government can create a fairer and more transparent Ekiti Housing Compliant (EHC), protecting prospective tenants from exploitation; at least this should be a place to hold either tenants or agents responsible for misconduct.
Also, the government should convene a timely meeting with agents and landlords. This kind of gathering will set the stage for constructive dialogue and conflict resolution.
More so, a crucial aspect of the regulatory framework is the development of a standardized document for agent-tenant agreements, approved by the state government. This document will outline essential terms, including tenant rights and responsibilities, agent obligations and fees, landlord expectations, and dispute resolution processes, providing a clear and binding contract between any agents and tenants.
To ensure compliance with established frameworks and agreements, the government should establish a dedicated task force. This task force will be responsible for monitoring and enforcing regulations, guaranteeing that all stakeholders adhere to the agreed-upon standards.
The situation of housing in Ekiti state should not be left in the hands of capitalist without checkmating.