In big cities in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State, renters are often charged exorbitant fees that sometimes exceed the normal rent itself with the tag of Commission Fee, Agreement Fee, Damages Fee, and Caution Fee all adding up as financial burdens that inhabitants do not find affordable. 

Informed by a research carried out with 100 residents, to decide whether this fees be scraped or reduced, 72% agreed that each of the fees should be reduced to 5% of the actual rent because of agents who make a living out of the said fees.

Aside from exorbitant charges that are prevalent as a result of lack of uniform regulations, other challenges faced by Lagos residents include not getting desired apartments on grounds of religion, gender, type of employment and tribalism as reported by our respondents and a 2019 report by Aljazeera. 

We are therefore using this opportunity to call on all stakeholders including the Presidency, Ministers and Lagos State Government to reform existing regulations and make housing more affordable and accessible to all residents of the state by acting on the proposed 5% additional levies on the actual rent.