Oyo Assembly Moves to Curb House Agent Extortion, Sets Committee to Draft Regulatory Bill
Ibadan, January 27 — The Oyo State House of Assembly has begun moves to regulate the activities of house agents across the state following mounting complaints of extortion, arbitrary charges, and sharp practices in the housing sector.
The development follows a series of engagements between youth advocates, residents’ groups, and state officials, during which concerns were raised over the growing financial burden placed on tenants, particularly young people and first-time renters in Ibadan and other urban centres.
Speaking during a recent stakeholders’ meeting, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, confirmed that the Assembly has set up a committee to draft a bill aimed at regulating house agents and restoring order to the state’s rental market.
According to the Speaker, the proposed legislation is expected to address long-standing abuses in the sector, including excessive agency fees, lack of transparency, and the absence of a clear regulatory framework governing agents’ operations.
The meeting was convened in collaboration with the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, following reports that many residents, especially young professionals and students, have been forced to pay multiple unregulated charges before securing accommodation.
Mr. Ogundoyin acknowledged the widespread nature of the problem, noting that complaints about house agent practices have become increasingly common across the state. He assured stakeholders that the Assembly would work swiftly to ensure the bill is drafted, debated, and presented for assent.
The Speaker also disclosed that he has briefed Governor Seyi Makinde on the matter and that the governor has expressed strong interest in reforms that would protect tenants and promote fairness in the housing sector. Lawmakers say they are optimistic that the bill could be finalised and passed before the end of the first quarter of the year, subject to legislative procedures.
As part of the consultations, civil society groups and youth advocates submitted a set of policy recommendations for consideration during the drafting process. These proposals include the registration and regulation of house agents under relevant state authorities, clearer guidelines on agency commissions, and measures to ensure transparency in rent collection.
Other suggestions put forward include restrictions on excessive charges, safeguards against agents withholding tenants’ funds, and improved legal protections for renters facing sudden rent increases or unfair treatment.
While these recommendations are not yet law, lawmakers have indicated that they will be examined during committee deliberations as part of a broader effort to balance the interests of tenants, landlords, and legitimate real estate practitioners.
Residents have welcomed the Assembly’s intervention, describing it as a long-overdue step toward addressing what many see as systemic exploitation within the housing market. In recent years, tenants in Ibadan and other parts of the state have repeatedly complained of paying multiple fees with little accountability or standardisation.
Housing analysts note that Oyo State’s move mirrors similar regulatory efforts in other parts of the country, where governments are increasingly under pressure to respond to rising rental costs and unregulated intermediaries.
As the legislative process begins, stakeholders say sustained engagement and transparent lawmaking will be critical to ensuring that any new framework delivers meaningful relief to tenants while maintaining professionalism within the real estate sector.