Landlord Justifies Rent Increase In FCT

A landlord in Lugbe
area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs Talatu Mohammed, has said  that the rents for new or renovated houses are usually increased to reflect  the  rising cost of building materials.
She insisted that she is obligated to increase the house rent  within  her control in line with the prevailing socio-economic realities in the society.
Mohammed, who  disclosed  this to journalists in an interview in Abuja, on Saturday, noted that rising  cost of building materials alongside  steady  increase in demand for  housing has forced landlords to increase rents.
She stressed that the estate  agents usually inform landlords about  the prevailing trends in house rents within the neigbourhood, adding that the landlords have no other choice than to heed to the agents’ advice.
“I must, however, admit that it is not proper to increase rent when the house is not new or has not undergone any remarkable renovation.
“The  cost of renting a house should normally reflect  the cost of building the house, but the rising inflation in the country also affects house rent,” she noted.
Residents of the FCT had been complaining of the rising cost of rent in the area, while this had  made it difficult for low income  earners, especially  civil  servants, to live within the city centre,  and want government to regulate house rents.