The Oyo State Government has opened talks with estate rent and commission agents as part of efforts to address complaints over excessive charges and protect tenants across the state.
The engagement, which took place on Wednesday, was disclosed in a statement issued by the Ministry of Information, Oyo State Government.
Hosting leaders of the Estate Rent and Commission Agents Association in his office, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Akin-Funmilayo Williams, said the meeting was convened to examine rising cases of rent and commission extortion and agree on practical steps to address them.
Williams said, “activities of house agents need to be regulated,” adding that while the government could not determine what landlords charge as rent, such practices could be addressed through legislation.
He explained that the ministry decided to consult practitioners in the sector to “rub minds and find a lasting solution to the issue,” especially amid public concern over housing costs.
The commissioner also referred to a recent report aired by a radio station in the state, which featured his photograph alongside claims that house rents were too high, calling on him to intervene.
He noted that the Oyo State House of Assembly, during its sitting on Monday, debated a similar matter and expressed the view that a law regulating the activities of estate agents would soon be enacted.
According to him, the stakeholder meeting was meant to help the ministry develop a position that would be presented to the House of Assembly, so that any proposed law would reflect the views of both government and practitioners in the sector.
He urged the association to submit a clear position on rent and commission charges, which would be forwarded to the lawmakers for further engagement.
Williams said it would not be proper for the ministry to unilaterally fix commission rates, stressing that professionals in the field were better placed to offer guidance that the government could review and transmit to the legislature.
He added that some of the inputs from the association could be adopted and incorporated into a law that would be binding on all operators, noting that “enforcement can only take place when there is a law in place.”
In his response, the Chairman of the Oyo State Estate Rent and Commission Agents Association, Hon. Okekunle Mutahir, commended the state government, saying many of its policies had supported the association’s operations.
Mutahir said the improved security situation in the state had encouraged more people to relocate and settle in Oyo, adding that the association had been aware of complaints from the public and had been working on the issues for over a year.
He said inspection fees had become a channel through which some individuals extort members of the public, noting that the association abolished the practice in early January last year.
Mutahir called on the government to assist the association in removing “unscrupulous elements” from its ranks.
