Residents of Port Harcourt and environs have raised alarm over the continuous increase in house rents and have called on the state government to intervene to checkmate activities of some house owners.
Some of the residents whom The Tide cornered expressed sadness over the attitude of some landlords on how they kept increasing rents every year.
Expressing his grievances on the matter while speaking to The Tide, Mr Innocent Elenga, who is a teacher in a private secondary school said that many of them who are tenants now live at the mercy of landlords.
He explained that he used to pay the sum of N100,000 for a self-contained flat at Rumuokoro area as at 2013, when the landlord increased it, but that after just one year interval when he wanted to renew the rent, he was asked to pay the sum of N120,000.
Elenga blamed the situation on excess demand for housing in Port Harcourt, where people are very desperate for accommodation, and urged government to take the issue of housing for the people very seriously.
While recounting his experience, a public servant in one of the state owned media houses, said his two-bedroom apartment which rent the landlady increased from N250,000 to N280,000 in 2012, has again been increased recently.
He said, “just as I met my landlady to renew my rent as at the time it was due for renewal this year, my landlady said that she will not accept the N280,000 again, this 2014.”
According to John, “The thing was like a play to me when she said that I will pay N350,000 for the 2-bedroom that is even having a leaking roof.”
He therefore called on the state government not to keep silent over this issue again, saying that some house owners are out to exploit their tenants, and urged government to enforce its rent regulation.
For Miss Regina Nwosu, the activities of these landlords are outrageous, and need to be put to check by government in the interest of the general public.
Nwosu explained that more than 50 per cent of her earnings is used just to pay for her self-contained flat within the Obio/Akpor axis where she lives.
According to her, the most funniest aspect is that they want their tenants to leave so that the new person can pay a higher amount to their own advantage.
Meanwhile, an Estate Surveyor and Valuer in Port Harcourt, Mr Collins Ordu has said that the government may not be able to control house rents.
Ordu who spoke in an interview with The Tide, said that the high cost of building materials is responsible for the continuous increase in house rents.

Corlins Walter

L-R: Paramount Ruler of Elekahia, Chief A. W. Akarolo JP, Deputy District Governor, Rtn Sam Mba, Rotary President, Rtn Chid Ikeji and Women Leader, Mrs Amadi during the commissioning of Water and Sanitation project at Rumuklagbor Market, Elekahia, last Saturday. Photo: Obinna Prince Dele.