Agents’ indiscriminate inspection fees, high rent worsen Lagos housing deficit

The upsurge of indiscriminate inspection fees imposed by house agents is deepening the hardships faced by those hunting for apartments in Lagos state Further checks show that these indiscriminate fares are worsened by yhe high prices of rent across major locations in Lagos Checks showed that the cost to secure an apartment varies depending on […]

The upsurge of indiscriminate inspection fees imposed by house agents is deepening the hardships faced by those hunting for apartments in Lagos state

Further checks show that these indiscriminate fares are worsened by yhe high prices of rent across major locations in Lagos

Checks showed that the cost to secure an apartment varies depending on the location. Major areas in the highbrow place are becoming far reaching while  securing accommodation in less urban areas has become survival  of the fittest.

For instance, the cost for two bedrooms ranges from N2m to N3m in some highbrow areas while while it cost N1m- N1.5m in some less urban areas.

Despite the hike in the cost of accommodation, prospective tenants groan over the indiscriminate inspection fees imposed on them.

Shola Adigun’s hassle stoked by indiscriminate inspection fees in search for an accommodation was palpable, expressing her pains and exorbitant money spent without securing an apartment.

Adigun who resides in Obawole said she has paid over N20,000 to different agents for inspection.

“I paid over N20,000 to different agents. They said I have to pay for an inspection,” she said.

Despite the inspection fees, Adigun’s fate of securing an apartment is on the brink of hopelessness, stressing that the agents just showed her the house without securing it.

“I’m just tired of this house hunt. They just keep collecting money. The person that showed me the house collected money,” she said.

Anu Falomo said she was charged N5000 for inspection fee but negotiated to deposit N3000 and complete the payment after securing the apartment.

“I insisted I can’t release N5000 money. So I gave him the remaining N2000 when he eventually found an apartment for me,” she said.

She, however, expressed regret that her friend was duped of N400,000 by the same agent.

“This agent duped someone else I introduced to him of N400,000. The lady did not meet the landlord or collect the key before transferring money to him,” she said.

Damilola Ogundipe, a NYSC corp member’s hunt for an accommodation met the firm grip of inspection fee scourge, paying N10,000 to an agent while seeking for a place close to her Primary Place of Assignment (PPA).

However, she found solace in her friend’s advice to request for video and pictures before embarking on an inspection trip.

“When I moved into Lagos, I tried getting an apartment close to my workplace to cut the cost of transportation. But all my efforts proved abortive. I couldn’t find anything within my budget and even the ones I found that were somewhat affordable were subpar.

“And worse yet, these agents would ask you to pay an inspection fee before taking you to vacant apartments, knowing fully well that the apartments they’re taking you to are in bad condition.

“Thankfully, someone had informed me about this and advised me to insist on pictures and videos before going to check any place out, and to also try as much as possible to stick with one or two agents so I don’t have to spend too much on inspection fees.

“And that was what I did. I only paid one agent to check out a few places. But the ones I saw were in terrible condition and I was advised to increase my budget to get better options. Since I couldn’t afford it, I had to give up on my search,” she said.

Tochi who resides in Oke-Ira and is currently seeking for another apartment said beyond paying for the N8,000 inspection fee, she was responsible for the cost of logistics during the inspection.

“I needed to pay before seeing a place which I didn’t end up getting. His total fee was to be N10,000 but I negotiated N8,000 as per a friend who referred him. However he did say the N8,000 was for him to show me other places until I settle for one.

“The other part apart from their fee is to cover their logistics,” she said.

Abiodun Adu who is a tenant in Ogba, narrated his experience, saying he was desperate for a new apartment due to the preparation to get married in 2022.

He said that the search for an apartment took some months and cost N3000 for each search.

“My search for a new apartment started in 2022 as I was looking to get married. I started from Gbagada Phase II looking to rent a mini flat. The search went on for months and on every occasion of inspection with the agent, whether we liked the house or not, we paid an inspection fee of N3000.

“We searched from Alapere to Ojudu Berger, to Alagbole, to Iju Ishaga, Fagba, Abule Egba, then back to Ogba environs where I currently reside,” he said.

Emmanuel Uche lamented over the high cost of accommodation coupled with agents fee, saying it adds to the nightmare of house hunting in Lagos.

“The housing situation in Lagos state is such that, I don’t know, it’s more or less like what we usually have with most landlords is that it’s not possible for you to be in a house for two years or three years without you having a hundred percent increment.

“In fact, the agency thing as regards to housing issues in Lagos states, I think the government needs to look into it because sometimes the agents, they take more than and you begin to imagine, are they the landlord that built the house or did they assist the landlord in building the house?

“The obvious answer is no. But most times their exorbitant fee is such that even if you have the money for the rent, you start cracking your head about the agency fee. In fact, it’s something that needs to be regulated,” he said.

Anuebunwa Chioma, a Mass Communication 300-level student lamented the hike in accommodation rent.

Chioma who resides off-campus in Ojo said the cost for her room self-contained has soared to N600,000 attributing the increase to the charges inflated by agents through agreement and commission.

“The price is very high for students. Where I am staying I paid N530,000 for the total package and yearly payment is N320,000.

“Now a self-contained room self-contained is N600,000 and the annual payment is N300-N320,000. The reason why is because of the agents’ commission and agreement fee” she said.

She added that some students miss lectures due to their inability to secure accommodation.

“Because of lack of accommodation, some students do not come for lectures, they only come during exam period. school at all,” she said.

Oscar Okon, a realtor with Property Station Limited, described inspection fee as optional, but said some agents demand for it to reward their efforts because some prospective clients waste time.

“My opinion about this inspection fee is very optional. I say that because you can decide not to take the inspection fee. It is not mandatory, but it is optional.

“Before now, I used to see people asking for inspection fees as quack agents, like they don’t know what they’re doing. But over time, I’ve realized that some clients are very, very unserious. Most of them are window shopping,” he said.

 

Inspection fee is not professional- Expert

The Associate Partner, Patrick Ogunjobi & Co, Nike Ogunjobi ANIVS described inspection fee as a practice by quacks, saying a professional will not demand for it.

“It’s those quacks that normally charge inspection fees. Like if a client comes to our office and wants to inspect property, we will not charge you for anything.

“It’s either we take the client’s car or pick one of our staff to go there with the person. Sometimes we use our vehicle that we normally use for inspection in the office to take the person there.

“So all these collect forms, pay money for forms before inspection, a professional estate surveyor will not do it. It’s those quacks that normally do it,” she said.

She, however, said some of the agents charge inspection fees to reward their efforts, adding that some house hunters may end up not liking the apartment shown to them.

“The reason why the quacks do that is just for them to protect and manage their time because a lot of clients are time wasters, you take them to different kinds of properties and they will not make up their mind on which one they want. That’s why those guys deploy that option “ she said.