Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) has partnered chairmen of Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs) in the 57 councils and LCDAs to regulate and reduce agency and legal fees charged by estate agents at the grassroots.

 Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Maruf Akinderu-Fatai, said the collaboration was essential to bringing “sanity to the built sector” and ensuring housing becomes more accessible for residents.

“The collaboration is not only to reduce the exorbitant fees charged by some property agents, but to bring sanity to the built sector and make life easier for Lagosians.

“Housing is a basic necessity, and we are committed to ensuring it is accessible and affordable,” he said.

Special Adviser to the governor on Housing,  Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, reiterated the government’s position on agency fees, saying agents must not charge more than the prescribed 10 per cent.

“Agency fees must be between zero and 10 per cent — not more. Anything beyond that is unacceptable and exploitative. Lagos State’s ultimate goal is to achieve monthly payment of house rent, and we are working towards this reality,” she stressed.

Odunuga-Bakare further urged residents to engage only with real estate practitioners registered with LASRERA, warning that unregistered agents pose significant risks to          tenants and landlords.

“We want members of the public to understand that doing business with unregistered agents poses serious risks. LASRERA exists to protect both tenants and landlords, and we will not relent in our effort to restore sanity to the built sector,” she said.

The collaboration with CDAs and CDCs is seen as a strategic step to deepen LASRERA’s reach at the grassroots level and ensure uniform regulatory practices in housing markets across all parts of the state.

The Lagos State Government continues to encourage residents to verify the registration status of real estate agents via the LASRERA website and report any violations or exploitative practices.