Ex-Abia Councilor Petitions House Speaker Over Exploitation Of Tenants
A former councillor in Ovuokwu Ward 9, Isialangwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, Hon. Ebere Davidson, has raised the alarm over what he described as the exploitation of tenants by house agents and landlords in the state.
In a petition addressed to the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, the former lawmaker called for urgent legislative intervention to curb what he termed “excessive and unregulated charges”.
In the petition, titled “Request for Legislative Action on Regulation of Rent-Related Fees by House Agents and Landlords in Abia State”, Davidson lamented the widespread practice where agents allegedly charge up to 50 per cent of the annual rent merely for showing clients available apartments—far above the 10 per cent agent commission that is standard in many other states.
“I write to you as a concerned citizen and former councillor of Ovuokwu Ward 9, Isialangwa South Local Government Area, to respectfully draw your attention to a pressing issue affecting the socio-economic well-being of our people in Abia State,” he stated in the letter.
“It has come to the notice of many residents and me that house agents operating across various towns and cities in Abia State have continued to exploit intending tenants through excessive and unregulated charges,” Davidson added.
He further noted that, in addition to inflated agent fees, many landlords have adopted the practice of demanding “caution fees” ranging from 20 per cent to 30 per cent of the annual rent. According to him, these fees are often not refunded at the end of the tenancy period, regardless of the condition of the property.
“These exploitative practices have created undue hardship for our citizens who are already grappling with economic challenges,” he said.
“More concerning is the negative impression it gives to potential investors, visitors, and professionals who may consider relocating to our state. It sends a message that Abia is an unregulated environment for housing, thereby undermining development efforts.”
Hon. Davidson is calling on the House of Assembly to take legislative action to address the growing problem. Specifically, he is urging the Assembly to:
- Regulate agents’ fees, with a clear cap at a reasonable percentage, such as 10 per cent of annual rent;
- Prohibit unregulated and non-refundable caution fees, unless transparently managed through binding tenancy agreements;
- Establish a monitoring and enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with any laws enacted on the matter.
He emphasised that the proposed legislative measures would serve the public interest and restore public confidence in the state’s housing market.
“Such legislation will go a long way in protecting our citizens, restoring public confidence, and creating a more investor-friendly and hospitable environment in Abia State,” he wrote.
Davidson appealed for immediate action. “I trust that you and the Honourable Members of the House will treat this issue with the urgency and seriousness it deserves,” he added.
Ex-Abia Councilor Petitions House Speaker Over Exploitation Of Tenants is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
