The Lagos State Government has reiterated that no landlord or agent should charge more than 10% of the annual rent as tenancy agreement fees, warning residents to report any violations.
Speaking at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing in Ikeja, Special Adviser on Housing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ms. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, emphasized the clarity of the Lagos State Tenancy Law, stating that charging beyond this limit breaches state regulations.
“We’ve received numerous complaints about exploitative agents demanding exorbitant fees that are simply unfair to Lagosians,” she said, urging the public to report offenders to the authorities, noting, “The government cannot be everywhere at once.”
Acknowledging the pressures of rapid population growth and rural-urban migration on Lagos’s housing sector, Odunuga-Bakare highlighted how these challenges have created loopholes for unscrupulous actors to exploit tenants. However, she affirmed the government’s firm commitment to regulating the housing market and protecting residents.
She also disclosed ongoing collaborations with registered real estate associations, noting that most offenders are unregistered agents operating illegally outside professional frameworks.
Residents encountering demands for fees exceeding the 10% cap are encouraged to report these cases to the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) via Facebook and Instagram at “lasrera1” or on X (formerly Twitter) @lasrera.
This call to action aims to empower Lagosians, enforce tenancy laws effectively, and promote a fairer, more transparent housing market in the state.
