Oyo Govt. Holds Stakeholders’ Meeting With House Agents • To Address Rising Cases Of Extortion
The Oyo State Government has held a stakeholder meeting with members of the Estate Rent and Commission Agents Association to address rising cases of rent and commission extortion and to protect tenants across the state.
The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Akin-Funmilayo Williams, said the meeting was convened to engage practitioners on how to regulate the activities of house agents, noting that while government cannot fix rents charged by landlords, agent practices can be guided by law.
Mr. Williams explained that the engagement became necessary amid public concerns over high rent charges and recent debates at the State House of Assembly, adding that inputs from stakeholders would help shape a proposed law regulating estate agency practice.
The Commissioner stressed that enforcement would only be possible with a clear legal framework, urging the association to submit a unified position that the ministry would review and forward to the House of Assembly for consideration.
Responding, the Chairman of the association, Mr. Okekunle Mutahir, commended the state government’s policies, disclosed that inspection fees had been abolished to curb extortion, and appealed for government support in eliminating unregistered and unscrupulous agents from the sector.
PR/AWF.
