A Nigerian woman has raised concerns over exorbitant charges by property agents, revealing that she was asked to pay ₦1 million simply to be connected to a landlord for a ₦2 million rental, urging landlords to display their contact information openly.
A Nigerian woman has drawn attention to the growing issue of inflated agent fees in the country’s real estate sector, describing the practice as unfair and exploitative.
In a social media post, the woman revealed that while the house she intended to rent was priced at ₦2 million, the property agent demanded ₦1 million solely for facilitating the connection with the landlord. She expressed frustration at what she described as an unnecessary middleman charge, noting that landlords could easily prevent such exploitation by publicly displaying their contact numbers on their properties.
“This is becoming a major problem for tenants in Nigeria. Paying half the rent just to meet the landlord is unreasonable. Landlords should consider putting their contact numbers on their buildings,” she wrote.
The incident highlights a broader trend of skyrocketing housing costs and agent-related fees in Nigeria, which often make renting unaffordable for average citizens. Analysts warn that unless regulatory measures are enforced, tenants will continue to bear the brunt of an unregulated agent market.
Tenants’ advocacy groups have called on government authorities and real estate associations to intervene, urging transparency in property transactions and fair practices to protect prospective renters from predatory charges.
Experts recommend that landlords and agents adopt standardized procedures for property listings and fee disclosures, ensuring that tenants are not subjected to exorbitant or hidden charges that exacerbate the country’s housing affordability crisis.
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