The practice of paying extra charges while securing accommodation is not limited to Rivers State alone but is a common occurrence in major cities across Nigeria, says estate surveyor and valuer, Emma Oka Wike.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Wike noted that tenants are often burdened with additional fees beyond rent, especially when they do not engage the services of professional estate surveyors or valuers.
“It is not peculiar to Rivers State alone. Even in Abuja, you experience the same thing,” he said. “That’s why we always advise the public to consult professional estate surveyors and valuers who are into real estate. No professional will ask for ‘drinking money’ or ‘matching ground’—that’s unprofessional.”
According to him, a certified estate surveyor is only entitled to a professional fee. Other charges like service fees are valid only when there are shared facilities to maintain, but many of the unregulated extra fees are demanded by unqualified agents posing as professionals.
“These extra charges are mostly collected by people who are not trained professionals but are into estate agency,” he added.
On the ongoing public calls for government regulation of house rents, Mr. Wike, a former President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, explained that rent control policies are hard to implement and often fail.
“Rent control has never worked in any society,” he said. “You can’t control what you didn’t finance. If someone obtains a loan at a high-interest rate to build a house, how do you expect to dictate how much he should rent it for?”
He cited failed attempts at rent control in Lagos and Rivers states during previous administrations as evidence that such policies are difficult to enforce.
“Even if you take the matter to court and the landlord says he won’t rent out his property under those terms, what can you do?” he asked.
Instead of imposing rent controls, Mr. Wike advised that the government should consider providing financial assistance to help citizens afford decent housing, particularly those in civil and public service.
“Any attempt to control house rent will discourage investment in real estate,” he warned. “If someone has ₦30 million to ₦60 million to invest and sees that the government wants to dictate rent prices, they’ll move that money elsewhere.”
“The government should focus on creating a conducive environment for investment and allow the market to determine rent,” he concluded. “In the meantime, they can support rent payments, especially for low-income earners.”
