Mixed reactions have trailed the move to ban housing agents by some states, owing to the unpleasant activities of the middle men in either property rentals or purchase.
Daily Trust reports that over the years Nigerians have continued to lament the activities of some property agents who they accuse as responsible for the hike in properties across the country.
However, some others belive that housing agents who are solely dependent on the practice for livelihood may need to be re-integrated into the system through alternative legal frameworks to avoid the possibility of them delving into any social vices.
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Nigerians react
Speaking to Daily Trust, Barrister Idongesit williams, welcomed the decision while lamenting the role of some house in the property sector
He said, “I must confess that not all of them are bad. But what some of the estate agents are doing is not fair to many Nigerians who are struggling to make a living.
“For instande landlords will would give a property out at the rate of N1 million, and they (agents) would be collecting as much as N1.5 million on the same property. This is especially so in Abuja, Lagos and some few states in the South East and South south. It is a very bad development. But it is heart-warming that the states of Ebonyi, Plateau and Lagos are looking into it,” he said
A tenant, Basil Okafor told Daily Trust that the ban should be adopted by every state so that Landlords can only relate to tenants directly
“I am a tenant and I will tell you that I have suffered in the hands of these agents. Some of them will take you on inspection to a property you don’t like and collect as high as N10,000. That’s the routine practice as they can take more than 10 people in a day and keep making their money without considering the plight of people
“Some of them even have the audacity to increase rents that are not authorized by the landlords so that they can pocket the rest. It is just unacceptable,” he said
However, expressing a contrary view, a trader, Bawa Kaka, noted that there should be a rethink by some states who want to ban agents
“These guys are vital in the property sector whether we like it or not. Not every landlord is accessible therefore we need agents. Agreed that there are some bad eggs but not all
“Therefore my advise is that they should be integrated legally into the property sector so as to separate the good ones from the bad ones. This is important because if some of them lose their jobs, they may most likely engage in many social vices which is not good for the country,” he said.
Agents speak
A house agent, Kasim Samu who spoke to pur correspondent on phone while reacting to the recent calls for their ban noted that the state capital has recently witnessed a dramatic increase in rental costs, with reports indicating a rise of up to 100%.
He argued that many agents are intervening in that regard and are not part of the people aggravating the situation.
He said : “As of early 2025, Abakaliki has become one of the most expensive cities for housing in Southeast Nigeria. Previously affordable neighbourhoods are now characterised by skyrocketing prices, prompting many families to reassess their living arrangements. A one-room self-contained apartment that once cost N200,000 per year is now N400,000, with luxury and serviced apartments exceeding these figures significantly.
“We agents are even trying to intervene between landlords and tenants but the state government see us as threat, some of us have been in this job for over 10 years and that’s where we get our daily bread. Therefore we urge the government to reconsider, “
Similarly, Bawa Bulus, another agent in Nasarawa state stated that rather than criminalising house agents, several factors are responsible for the rise in rental costs should be looked into.
“Factors like high inflation and cost of living have resulted in adjusted prices all over. He also decried the high influx of people into the city, putting pressure on the limited housing stock in the satellite areas such as Mararaba , Airport road and the Kubwa axis.
“The increased demand for limited housing stock has led to higher rents which is why it mandatory for agents to collect agency fees irrespective of the economic situation of house seekers,” he explained
He added that “Majority of our clients around this area are those looking for houses to live in. So, we do house searches, we take them on inspection and it is expected that we collect our 10 or 20 percent commission after a successful transaction.”
Ebonyi to commence implementation in Jan 2026
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Government has announced plans to ban the activities of house agents and land agents starting in 2026, in a move aimed at stopping exploitation in the housing sector.
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who made this known during a recent public address, said many agents have been taking advantage of people looking for accommodation by charging large fees—sometimes up to N500,000—for houses or land they don’t even own.
He said the state will no longer allow these agents to continue causing hardship for residents, blaming them for pushing up rent prices and making housing harder to access.
From next year, no agent will be allowed to collect money from anyone looking for a house or land in Ebonyi State,” the governor reportedly said. “We want to stop these unfair practices and ensure that people deal directly with the rightful property owners.
“I don’t want to see or hear anything about house or land agents in Ebonyi State from 2026,” Governor Nwifuru declared. “This exploitation must stop. No agent should collect any money from anyone seeking accommodation again,” he emphasized
To address the issue, the Ebonyi State House of Assembly is currently working on a Rent Regulation Bill submitted by the governor. The bill has already passed its second reading and has been sent to a special committee for more review. The committee will meet with landlords, tenants, and agents to find a better and fairer way to manage housing and rent in the state.
In the same vein, Daily Trust gathered that the Plateau State House of Assembly has taken a bold step with the passage of a new bill banning agent-driven housing practices in Jos and across Plateau State.
This legislation was sponsored and by Rt. Hon. Dewan Gabriel, Member representing Pankshin North Constituency and the Minority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, which seeks to address the growing concerns of exploitation and unfair charges by housing agents in the state’s rental market.
It was further gathered that for years, residents in Jos and other urban centers have raised complaints about the high cost of securing accommodation, often worsened by unregulated agent fees, multiple charges, and lack of accountability in housing transactions.
The bill further outlines enforcement measures that will guide how landlords, property owners, and tenants engage in rental agreements moving forward.
This means that individuals seeking accommodation in Jos and across Plateau State will now have more direct dealings with landlords without the burden of extra agent charges.
Already, the Lagos State Government has declared that engaging in real estate practice without registration with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority is illegal and subject to sanctions.
The announcement was made recently in Alausa, Ikeja, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Head of LASRERA, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, in a statement shared through the official X account of the state government.
She stated that any individual or organisation involved in real estate transactions, whether as an agent, realtor, or practitioner, must obtain a valid LASRERA certificate of registration before conducting business in Lagos.
The statement read, “The Lagos Government has stated that it is an offence to practice real estate business, either as a commission agent, realtor, or real estate practitioner, without proper registration with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority.
Meanwhile, checks by Daily Trust show that asides Lagos state that have a law regulating real estate, there is no Law in the country regulating real estate practice.
