Residents of Abuja have appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the arbitrary increase in house rents by landlords in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In separate interviews on Sunday, some residents said paying rent in Abuja was burdensome as landlords increased rents at will. They lamented that such an indiscriminate hike in rent had caused ill-treatment and harassment from landlords.

Dauda Abusali, an artist, said his rent was increased without prior notice, adding that he is currently putting up with a friend.

“My landlord asked everyone to pack if they are unable to pay the rent he is demanding; my experience is tough,” stated Mr Abusali. “I have sent my family home to see how I can survive the situation.’’

Mr Abusali said there were many houses in the city with no one occupying them because of the high rents.

“The government should make policies that will stop this trend; houses should not be empty when many people do not have houses,’’ he added.

Kolade Tayo, an event planner, said that it was inhumane to increase the rent on a house built many years ago because of today’s economic situation.

“As a tenant, I have received terrible treatment from my landlord, who does whatever he likes. The government should be able to regulate the arbitrary increase in house rents; if the government can put a benchmark on rents, it will greatly help the residents,” he said.

Ajibola Olushola, a fashion designer, said the recurring increase in house rent affected his household.

According to him, he does not have enough money to sort out other family needs after paying rent. He pleaded that the government come to the rescue of the citizens.

“The government should support schemes that manage house rent issues before all of us die in this country,” he said.

Esther Mamudu, a corps member, expressed that the exorbitant rental fees imposed by landlords constitute a form of injustice experienced by tenants in their interactions with property owners.

“My sister resumed school only to realise that her rent had been increased with no prior notice. She was asked to either pay immediately or vacate the house,’’ she said.

Ms Mamudu added that there was a need for a body that would serve as a watchdog to regulate house rents and the activities of landlords in Abuja and Nigeria at large.

She said regulating rents in Nigeria would go a long way toward easing the suffering of the masses.

Nex Peter, a printer, said, “I decided to live with my friends so we could join hands together to pay the rent of N400,000 every year. This is the only way I can survive in Abuja; I appeal to the government at all levels to look into the hardship people are facing and address it; it is becoming unbearable,” he said.

Agogo Stephen, another corps member, expressed dissatisfaction with the situation in the country, adding that no average Nigerian was having it at ease.

Mr Stephen called on the government to intervene in reducing the price of building materials to help low-income earners afford a roof over their heads.

However, a landlord, Banji Oluwaseyeri, attributed the increase in rent in Abuja to the high cost of living in the country.

“Transportation and feeding are on the increase; as landlords, we have to increase our rent to be able to survive the current economic situation,’’ he said.

Mr Oluwaseyeri appealed to the government to support the citizens with tokens and reduce the cost of transportation.

The Ninth Senate passed into second reading a bill seeking to stop landlords in the FCT from demanding advance payment of one-year rent from their tenants.

The legislation was titled, “A Bill for an Act to Regulate the Mode of Payment of Rent on Residential Apartments and Office Spaces in the FCT and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.’’

The bill, sponsored by Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi-West), plans to end landlords’ one-year advance payment of rent.

(NAN)