By Kayode Olabanji

Securing decent accommodation in Akure, Ondo State, has become an arduous ordeal, not just due to the rising cost of rent but also the exploitative practices of unscrupulous house agents. In a city where the demand for housing is high, many prospective tenants find themselves trapped in a cycle of extortion, deceit and financial hardship at the hands of these middlemen.

 For residents seeking accommodation, dealing with house agents often comes with exorbitant “inspection fees,” ranging from N2,000 to N5,000 per visit, with no certainty of eventually securing the apartment. In many instances, these agents recycle old, unavailable, or substandard listings, repeatedly showing the same properties to multiple clients, all in a bid to extort inspection fees.

Beyond rent and caution fees, tenants are burdened with arbitrary costs such as “agreement fees” and “facilitation fees,” which sometimes amount to 30–50 percent of the total rent. This financial strain disproportionately affects students, low-income earners, and young professionals, forcing many to part with hard-earned money for unjustifiable charges.

A civil servant, Mr Tunde Adebayo,  who recently relocated to Akure, shared his distressing experience: “I paid inspection fees to three different agents, yet none showed me a decent apartment. One even took me to a house that was already occupied. In the end, I had to use another agent. My two-bedroom apartment cost N300,000, but the total package was N400,000. That means the agent alone took N100,000. That’s outrageous, but I had no choice,” he lamented.

Similarly, a businesswoman,  Mrs Grace  Oladapo, narrated how she was deceived: “After paying N50,000 as ‘agent and agreement fees,’ I later discovered, the actual rent was N200,000, but the agent told me it was N250,000. The landlord was unaware of the extra charges.  By the time I found out, it was too late.”

 She also decried the monopoly of house agents, stating: “The saddest part is that you cannot search for a house by yourself. Agents have blocked all access to landlords. Sometimes, up to five agents are involved in a single house, each trying to profit from inspection fees. It’s a terrible situation.”

The practice of overcharging unsuspecting tenants is not just a business strategy for some agents, it has become a well-coordinated scheme. In many cases, agents deliberately inflate rent prices without the knowledge of landlords. Some even demand “commission fees” on behalf of landlords, which never reach the property owners.

Also, a schoolteacher, Mrs Iyanu Ajibade, narrated her experience: “I had to pay an extra N50,000 to an agent after paying N250,000 to the landlord, making a total of N300,000. It feels like extortion, but there was no other way.”

Beyond the financial burden, house seekers are often forced to endure psychological stress and wasted time. Some tenants spend weeks or even months searching for accommodation, only to be left stranded after multiple agents fail to deliver on their promises.

Weekend Hope gathered that not all landlords are in support of the exploitative practices.

Mr. Michael Owoeye, a landlord in the Arisoyin area of Oke-Aro, Akure, expressed his disapproval: “I personally dislike giving my houses to agents. That’s why I rent them out directly at affordable prices. People know me for that.”

However, he acknowledged that the rising unemployment rate has pushed many into real estate brokering, leading to unregulated practices.

Another landlord, Mr. Benjamin Olawale, admitted that he reluctantly handed over his property to an agent.

“Initially, I handled my rentals myself, but a young man pleaded with me to let him manage it so he could make a little money to feed his family. I couldn’t refuse, considering the economic hardship. Still, I believe there should be a system regulating their charges to make renting easier for people, he stated.”

Despite their frustrations, some landlords prefer using agents to shield themselves from problematic tenants in handling rent collections.

However, this reliance has inadvertently given agents unchecked power, which many now abuse.

A legal practitioner, Friday Adeoye, faulted the practice of forcing tenants to pay agent fees meant for landlords.

He said: “Under the principle of agency, a landlord who hires an agent should be responsible for the agent’s fee. A tenant should only pay an agent he or she personally engaged to find an apartment. But in Ondo States especially Akure, the state capital, tenants are being compelled to pay agency fees to agents working for landlords, which is a clear legal anomaly.”

He also raised concerns over arbitrary rent hikes, noting that the Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Law of Ondo State empowers the Governor to regulate rent by setting minimum and maximum rates for different areas. However, poor enforcement of this law has left many tenants at the mercy of exploitative landlords.

“One of the key reasons fraudulent practices thrive among house agents in Akure, is the absence of strict regulations.  Unlike some states, agents in Akure lack an official body to monitor and license them, allowing unregistered individuals to operate unchecked. Despite occasional warnings from local authorities, enforcement remains weak. Without standardised charges, agents will continue to extort unsuspecting tenants, leaving them with no choice but to comply.

“To address this growing menace, stakeholders, including the Ondo State Government and professional real estate bodies must take decisive action. A licensing system should be introduced to ensure that only qualified and accountable individuals operate as house agents. Furthermore, tenants must be educated on their rights to avoid falling victim to fraudulent agents. A publicly accessible database of verified house agents and legitimate property listings could help regulate the industry and restore sanity to the system.

 “Government agencies should also collaborate with tenant advocacy groups to establish a platform where renters can report fraudulent agents. This would not only expose bad actors,  but also deter others from engaging in shady dealings,” he explained .

Adeoye stressed that house-hunting should not be a financial nightmare for many residents of Akure.

“Unless urgent steps are taken to curb the widespread extortion by house agents, the dream of a smooth and fair housing process will remain elusive. The government, landlords, and tenants must all play their roles in reforming the broken rental system. By introducing clear regulations, tenant protections, and a transparent listing system, the exploitation of house seekers can be curtailed. The time for reform is now,” he emphasised.