The Lagos State Government on Tuesday advised residents to speak up against extortion or arbitrary rents increase by landlords and stop suffering in silence.
Mr Ayodeji Amodu, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Housing gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Amodu said there was the need for residents to speak up because enforcement of the existing laws on rent was only possible when people lodge complaints.
He noted that the state government recently inaugurated a new agency to regulate and monitor both tenants and landlords to ensure equity, adding that laws were usually forgotten if not used or challenged.
The aide called on tenants who were victims of arbitrary rent increase or other vices to approach the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), for amicable resolution of issues.
“People just keep quiet when they are overcharged; but the law will not defend you if you don’t come to challenge it.
“Somebody must actually go out to say that I know my right and I can always challenge any landlord who is increasing his rent abruptly without any course to the law of the land,’’ he said.
Amodu noted that the agency was created to monitor, control and regulate policies of real estate transactions in the state.
“Like I said, the government is always on the side of the people; that is why the regulatory authority was inaugurated and is doing very well to ensure transactions are monitored.
“If you are a tenant or a landlord, you have access to get LASRERA.
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