Kaduna residents lament soaring rents as rates triple in one year

Kaduna residents acquire appealed to Governor Uba Sani to urgently intervene in the unprecedented surge in abode rent, particularly in the Kaduna metropolis.

In separate interviews with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, residents from various parts of the city asserted landlords were arbitrarily increasing rents, with some tripling rates within a year, leaving many families distressed and unable to cope.

“I was paying N350,000 annually for my apartment in Unguwan Rimi. Just recently, I received a propose from my landlord telling me I now contain to repay N900,000,” stated Mubarak Aliyu, a tenant.

“We are not against landlords adjusting rent, but tripling it in a single year is unjust. There should be laws to regulate tenancy. This variety of exploitation is unacceptable.”

In Unguwan Dosa, Musa Baban Fati shared a similar exposure.

“It has become a trend. A landlord just calls you and says rent has gone up, without providing any improvements or amenities in the structure. They don’t restore anything; they just need more wealth,” he stated.

PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation revealed that from Sabon Tasha, Narayi, Malali, Kawo, Badarawa, Barnawa, Kakuri, to Unguwan Shanu, the situation is the same: arbitrary and unaffordable rent hikes, often without corresponding improvements in housing quality.

Tenants press for legislative protection

Hamid Baba, a resident of Kabala, urged the state state to enact legislation that allows for flexible rent payments—monthly, quarterly, or annually—as is done in many developed countries.

“Even school fees are now paid in instalments, so why can’t rent be done monthly? That way, tenants are not under extreme pressure. Also, landlords should be held accountable if they act not provide basic amenities respect water, power, or security,” he explained.

Other residents echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the vast for for leadership regulation to safeguard small- and middle-income earners from being priced out of their homes.

Landlords cite rising maintenance costs

yet, Umar Maigida, a property owner in Kaduna North, told PREMIUM TIMES that the sharp amplify in premises and maintenance costs forced landlords to raise rent.

“establishment materials and maintenance costs acquire skyrocketed. We know the tenants’ pain, but we’re also struggling,” Mr Maigida mentioned. “nonetheless, landlords should be compassionate and reasonable in how they adjust rent.”

Calls for policy reform

Gloria Sani, a statutory practitioner based in Kaduna, remarked the state lacks a comprehensive tenancy legislation that protects both landlords and tenants.

“Kaduna needs a formal Tenancy regulation that stipulates notice periods, caps on rent increases, mandatory agreements, and a mediation framework to resolve disputes. Without such statutory backing, tenants will continue to be vulnerable,” she remarked.

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Meanwhile, residents hold urged Governor Sani to implement a housing reform, saying more families are struggling with the rising living costs.

“The governor has shown focus in training, agriculture, and infrastructure. He is also doing lots in housing, but as it is now, he needs to pivot his heed to housing more, which is brisk becoming a crisis,” announced Zainab Mohammed, a community organiser in Barnawa.