21st March, 2012
Some prospective tenants in Lagos on Tuesday decried the increasing rents being charged by some landlords in Lagos, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
They told NAN in separate interviews in Lagos that house rents had increased by 100 percent since November.
NAN reports that old houses were now being converted to rooms, mini-flats, two and three-bedroom flats, depending on the land space.
According to them, rent on a mini flat is now N200,000 per annum against the old N120, 000 and N150, 000 in November, while three-bedroom flat is now between N350,000 and N400, 000.
NAN also gathered from the prospective tenants that a room in a decent environment goes for N6, 000 per annum against the rates of between N3, 000 and N4, 000 in November.
Some agents also said that a three-bedroom flat could be as high as N350, 000 and N400,000 per annum, while the agency and lawyer fees were around N100,000.
Mr. Femi Adeboye, a resident relocating from Ketu to Kosofe area in Mile 12, said that some houses he had negotiated for had new rents attached to them.
“Old buildings are now being converted to single rooms, one-bedroom flats, room and parlour and mini-flats, among others.
“How can l pay N200, 000 for one-bedroom flat with N100, 000 as agency and lawyer fees totaling N300, 000 for one year,” he said..
Another prospective tenant, Mr. Chikodi Ibe, said that the rent on a house he got at Ogudu, Ojota area was almost the same.
“The price of one room is N150, 000 per annum, while that of one-bedroom is N200, 000 with additional N100, 000 agency fees.
“Those of us who are desperately looking for accommodation are begging the landlords through the agents to reduce the rents. Things are getting harder everyday,” he said.
Also, Mr. Pius Johnson, another prospective tenant, said that he found an old building at Iyana-Oworo and the landlord was demanding for N6, 000 for a room.
“The environment is not neat, no water, no good toilet and bathroom and the landlord still wants to collect N6,000. I just left him for another place.
“Most times, it is not the fault of the agents because as they are trying to convince the landlords while other persons are desperate to take the houses at that price or even pay more,” he said.
Mr. Innocent Imoude, another prospective tenant at Apapa Road, Ebute-Meta, said that he got a room in the area for between N6, 000 and N7, 000.
Mr. Aliyu Mohammed, an estate agent, said that many customers were now demanding for a room and this was the reason they advised landlords and developers to convert old buildings to single rooms.
He said that one should not expect house rents to go down considering the high prices of building materials and labour.