Pinky's CORNER

Recently, my sister in law decided to move to Ibadan for reasons best known to her and her family, and they asked me to look for a two bedroom apartment for them. I got a place and the agent said the rent was 600k, the service charge was 70k yearly, and the total package was 970k. 

I asked him to explain how he arrived at that amount, at least to tell me how much the agreement and commission were, but he could not give any breakdown. He simply said that was how they do it.

Anytime you hear TP, total package, without any explanation, just know something is wrong with that price. And here in Ibadan, it is very rare to meet or know the landlord, except by luck. You might not know the owner until after two years, but rent will always go into either the agent’s account or the owner’s account.

Very early the next day, I went to the area where the house was located. I had already paid 3k for inspection and paid transport fare to and fro. I spoke with some individuals around the house to see if I could find the person in charge of the property. 

Fortunately, I met a young man who assisted me and gave me the address of the lawyer in charge. I did not want to play smart on the agent because I might need them again for other people. I went to the lawyer’s office, typed the number on the advert plate, called him, and we discussed at length. I told him I was the one who came for inspection with an agent and that I was interested, but I did not have the amount they were calling.

To cut the long story short, he asked me how much I had, and after explaining, he gave me the breakdown and the exact amount it should be. I discovered the agents had added 120k extra, meaning the lawyer would settle them and they would still go and share the extra 120k among themselves.

 I collected the lawyer’s account number and asked my sister in law to send her payment. That was how I secured the apartment for her. Since two days ago, the agents have been disturbing me to come and pay because they do not know I have already gotten the place. And since I am not the one staying there, I owe them nothing.

Ibadan agents too do, please. A shop that is 80k becomes 190k TP, as how. A room self contain that is 300k becomes 550k TP. The most annoying one is at Agbowo, opposite UI. A room self contain there is 600k, TP 1,200,000. Who did this to us in this country.

I think the government should regulate this TP issue. Agents are the main problem when it comes to house hunting. Go to their houses, most of them are not responsible. Many of them stay in one ordinary room and still find it hard to pay NEPA bills.

Ogaooooo