Real Estate Practitioners In Lagos Must Now Register To Avoid State Clampdown

Lagos State has directed house agents, property developers and professionals in the sector to register with the state. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, said that the registration is for a unified central database of real estate practitioners and their activities.

This was made known by Lagos State’s Twitter handle, @followlasg. Benson-Awoyinka said the new development will hinder some agents from fraudulent activities which many people have fallen victim of while searching for accommodation within the state.

“We are well aware of the trend of fraudulent practices of some Real Estate Agents and Property Developers, this is reflected in the complaints received by the Agency in recent times from residents who had fallen victims to fake Real Estate Practitioners and Property Developers while seeking for accommodation, purchase or sale of property, hence the need to have a comprehensive database that can be used to curb these fraudulent practices in the sector.” Benson-Awoyinka said.

She said this while revealing that the state has changed the government department from Lagos State Real Estate Transaction Department to Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA). The department will be in charge of initiating the rules and regulations for estate agency activities.

The department will also determine those eligible for license to become estate agents and renew annual licenses, sanction unlicensed estate agency practitioners operating in Lagos, and investigate lcomplaints and petitions against licensed estate agency practitioners, amongst others.

Meanwhile, the website www.lasrera.com has a complaint section and a registration portal which allows practitioners to upload documents.

The Lagos State Government on Thursday sealed 19 additional buildings in the highbrow Banana Island, Ikoyi. 

The State Government had on Wednesday sealed up 15 buildings in Bourdillion, Onikoyi and Banana Island for not having government-issued permits.