By Staff Reporter
Ibadan, Oyo State
The Oyo State Government has begun stakeholder engagements aimed at regulating estate agents and curbing excessive inspection and commission fees in Ibadan and across the state. The proposed policy shift, currently under consideration by the Oyo State House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, has drawn support from DEVALOP Group, a real estate development and advocacy group, which says the reforms are long overdue.
Oyo State Government, Real Estate Agents, House of Assembly Move to Curb Rent, Commission Extortion as DEVALOP Backs Policy Shift
The Oyo State Government has commenced formal engagements with estate rent and commission agents as part of ongoing efforts to address rising complaints of excessive rents and exploitative agency charges in Ibadan and other urban centres of the state.
The stakeholder meeting, held in Ibadan, was convened by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development following growing public concern over non-standardised agency fees, including inspection charges and inflated commissions that significantly increase the cost of securing accommodation.
Speaking during the engagement, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Akin-Funmilayo Williams, said while government cannot directly determine how much landlords charge as rent, it has the responsibility to regulate the conduct of intermediary agents through policy and legislation.
“Although the government cannot dictate the amount property owners charge as rent, the activities of house agents can be regulated by law,” the commissioner said.
Williams explained that the meeting was part of a consultative process aimed at gathering input from practitioners to guide proposed legislation currently being considered by the Oyo State House of Assembly to regulate estate agency practices.
“Practitioners in the field should provide guidance, which the ministry will review and develop recommendations to be forwarded to the House of Assembly for consideration,” he added.
The commissioner noted that the absence of a clear regulatory framework has allowed unprofessional and unregistered agents to thrive, leading to widespread complaints from tenants who are often forced to pay multiple, arbitrary fees in addition to rent.
Responding on behalf of practitioners, the Chairman of the Estate Rent and Commission Agents’ Association, Hon. Okekunle Mutahir, acknowledged the challenges confronting the sector and pledged the association’s cooperation with government to sanitise the profession.
“The association has been aware of the concerns being raised and has been working on the issues for over a year,” Mutahir said.
He disclosed that some practices, particularly inspection fees, had already been identified as major avenues for extortion and that the association had taken internal steps to abolish such charges to protect members of the public.
“Inspection fees had become an avenue through which some bad eggs extort members of the public,” he said, calling for stronger government backing to flush out illegal operators.
The engagement comes amid increasing pressure from residents, tenant groups, and housing advocates who argue that unchecked agency charges have worsened the housing burden for low- and middle-income earners across the state.
DEVALOP Declares Support for Reform
Reacting to the proposed policy shift, real estate development and advocacy group DEVALOP expressed strong support for the regulatory direction being pursued by the state government and the House of Assembly, describing it as timely and necessary.
In a statement, the organization said it does not support extortion in any form and is committed to working with government and the public to restore fairness and transparency to the housing market.
The Managing Director of DEVALOP, Mr. Olawale Daniel, who has consistently spoken against excessive inspection fees, reiterated his long-standing opposition to exploitative practices within the industry.
“Anyone familiar with my work in the industry knows my consistent opposition to extortion and manipulation. Charging inspection fees, in addition to full commission at the point of transaction, places an unnecessary burden on members of the public,” he said.
The DEVALOP MD noted that his position predates the current policy discussions and aligns with the state government’s renewed interest in sanitising the housing sector.
According to DEVALOP, unregulated fees undermine trust in the real estate market and worsen affordability challenges, especially for ordinary residents seeking decent accommodation.
The organization called for collaboration among government, professional bodies, and civil society to ensure effective enforcement of any new law that emerges from the ongoing consultations.
Government officials confirmed that recommendations from the stakeholder engagement would be compiled and forwarded to the Oyo State House of Assembly, where deliberations on a regulatory framework for estate agents are ongoing.
Stakeholders have expressed optimism that the proposed reforms, once enacted and enforced, will curb exploitative practices, protect tenants, and professionalise the real estate sector in Oyo State.
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