Oyo Lawmaker, Babalola Move Motion against Rent Exploitation, Fraud and Unfair Restrictions by house and land Agent’s in Oyo State

The motion highlighted the fraudulent activities of fake real estate agents and some licensed developers, who deceive accommodation seekers, falsely advertise properties, collect multiple payments on a single rental unit, and disappear after receiving money.

Despite last Government intervention, exploitative practices in the real estate sector have continued, creating further challenges for residents and property buyers in Oyo State.

Beyond fraudulent rental transactions, house rent fees have increased drastically, often without any improvement in housing quality, infrastructure, or basic amenities.

Agents now charge outrageous facilitation fees, sometimes higher than the rent itself, making housing difficult to afford for many residents.

These unregulated activities have left many tenants struggling to secure decent accommodation in the state.

Some estate developers have imposed monopolistic restrictions on land buyers, insisting that only their affiliated engineers and contractors can handle construction projects on their estates.

This practice limits buyers’ freedom to develop their properties independently, inflates construction costs, and forces individuals into an unfair contractual system controlled by developers.

Even when buyers present certified engineers who meet all necessary qualifications, they are still denied permission to carry out their own construction, violating the fundamental rights of landowners.

These exploitative practices have led to widespread public complaints, as innocent investors and tenants are trapped in unfair agreements that limit their financial freedom.

Many landlords also refuse to issue tenancy agreements, leaving renters without legal protection.

If urgent measures are not taken, the housing crisis will escalate, and investor confidence in the real estate sector will decline.

Oyo State must take decisive steps to regulate land sales, property rentals, and developer activities to ensure that the rights of residents and investors are protected.

The House resolve to urge the Executive Arm of Government through the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Real Properties Protection Agency to:

i. to register all real estate agents and developers in the state, maintain a database of properties, and monitor land sales, rental agreements, and estate development activities.

ii. ensure that landowners are given the freedom to engage any licensed engineer or contractor of their choice, rather than being forced to use developers’ affiliated professionals.

iii. regulate house rent increases and prohibit real estate agents from imposing excessive fees beyond legally permitted charges.

v. introduce a verification process for real estate advertisements to prevent misleading promotions that falsely portray undeveloped land as prime locations.