Soludo declares war on illegal agency fees in Anambra

…Vows to end rent extortion

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has drawn the battle line against rent exploitation, warning house agents in the State to stop collecting illegal fees from tenants or face State action.

“House agents in Anambra State should get ready, we are coming for them soon,” the governor declared on Monday at Mgbuka Obosi.

In a statement that sent shockwaves through Anambra’s real estate circles, the governor vowed to crack down on house agents who impose extra charges on tenants after rent has already been paid.

Governor Soludo, while addressing a large gathering, condemned the practice of agents demanding commission, agreement, caution and other undocumented fees on top of annual rent, a burden he said, had made housing unaffordable for the ordinary Anambra residents.

“I heard that after tenants pay their house rent, agents still collect additional fees from them,” Soludo said. “House agents in Anambra State should get ready, we are coming for them soon.”

For millions of tenants, rent day is already a crisis. A civil servant earning N70,000 monthly is forced to save for 10-12 months just to pay N250,000 for a 2-bedroom flat. Then the agent appears, demanding another N50,000 – N100,000 in “fees” before handing over keys.

Governor Soludo’s warning reframes housing as a matter of justice, not just shelter. “A home is a right, not an opportunity for extortion,” the Governor implies.

“By targeting agents who “tax poverty,” the governor is positioning his administration as a defender of the poor against predatory middlemen.

Though Governor Soludo did not detail enforcement measures, he only said, “we are coming for them soon” signal imminent regulatory action.”

Sources in the Ministry of Housing said the State might soon publish an approved rent fee schedule with zero tolerance for extra charges.

“Sanction and deregister agents caught collecting illegal fees. Create a tenant complaint hotline for direct reporting to Government”, the sources said.

Anambra, like Lagos and Abuja, has seen rent and agent fees skyrocket post 2023. The practice violates Section 4 of the Tenancy Law, which caps agent commission, but enforcement has been weak. Soludo’s declaration shifts that balance.

If enforced, this could be Soludo’s most people-centred housing policy yet, telling a story that is unfolding.