The Lagos state government has called on residents to report any landlord or agent that requires rent for more than one year, its broader effort to stop the state’s real estate surplus.
Balakat Balakarre, special housing consultant for the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Lasrera) Your opinionwhere she reiterated the government’s commitment to regulating the real estate market and making housing more accessible.
Bakare said the Sanwo-olu government is actively reviewing the state’s lease laws to close regulatory loopholes, especially near warning costs, which she described as a point of friction duplication between landlords and tenants. She urged Lagosians to visit Lasreira’s office in person or use the agency’s website to file a complaint with landlords who violate the law. “The minimum you can charge is one month’s rent, according to her. You can collect it quarterly, every three months or a year, but only one year,” she added. “If we find that the landlord wants to collect it for more than a year, you can report it to the Lagos State real estate regulator in the 21 block on the first floor of Alassa.”
The Special Adviser said the ongoing discussions are being conducted with the landlords, developers and property associations designed to promote fair pricing and responsible for housing practices. She explained that the allocation of state-owned housing is based on strict and transparent standards designed to ensure fairness and accountability. Bakare also recommends that potential tenants verify registration status with any real estate agent or developer at Lasrera before making a transaction.
“Times are hard. We are not here to make Lagos’ lives harder. We sit with our landlords, find a middle ground and do everything we can to make housing more humane and easier to access.” She highlighted the need for clarity in real estate transactions, noting that there is a clear difference between lawyers’ responsibilities and attorneys in property transactions.
