The Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Adetoke Benson-Awoyinka on has made it clear that the registration of professional real estate practitioners across the State is not negotiable.

The registration process is in the interest of the practitioners and members of the public.

Speaking in a meeting with Real Estate Practitioners in Lagos, Benson-Awoyinka, said that the registration would protect accommodation seekers from falling prey to fraudulent practitioners and will also, increase public confidence in genuine practitioners.

The Special Adviser also declared that it has now become illegal to practice Real Estate Business in the State without a valid licence issued by the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA).

She emphasised that the protection of lives and property of all residents of the State is the primary responsibility of government, hence the need for the coordination, regularisation and registration of genuine practitioners in the Real Estate business.

“Let me emphasise that engaging in real estate transactions without registering with the State Government or obtaining necessary approval is a punishable offence under the law”, the Special Adviser said.

While referencing several reports on the pages of newspapers and social media about people who fell victims of fraudulent Real Estate transactions, she stressed that the government cannot fold its arms and allow fraudulent practices to thrive.

In her words “Just recently, a physically challenged couple were duped in Mushin by a Real Estate Agent while they were seeking for accommodation. This development, which is now becoming a daily occurrence in Lagos property market, must be corrected and may not have happened at all if all parties involved are registered with the government”.

The Special Adviser stated that the stakeholders’ gathering is a Forum of interaction between the government and those in the business of securing accommodation for people to identify how best to grow and sustain the sector which plays a major role in the economic development of Nigeria and Lagos State.

“You need to join hands with the present administration so that the unregistered practitioners and those with ulterior intentions would be identified and eliminated from the Real Estate Business in Lagos”, Mrs Benson-Awoyinka advised.

She also expressed her gratitude and appreciation for the support of the stakeholders since the establishment of Lagos State Real Estate Transaction Department which has now been upgraded to an Agency renamed Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA).

The Special Adviser noted that under the LASRERA law, disgruntled residents now have the right to forward their complaints to the Agency and upon the discovery that their rights have been violated, legal proceedings would be instituted against such practitioners according to the provisions of the law.

LASG

ForAGreaterLagos