You’ve probably heard this story before.
A friend sees a house listing online. It’s perfect. Great price, nice location, and the pictures look amazing.
They call the agent, who sounds professional and promises the house is still available, but only if they act fast. Eager not to miss out, they pay a “commitment fee” or inspection charge. Days pass. No house, and now, the agent has vanished.
In Surulere, Lagos, this kind of scam has become all too common. Many so-called “agents” are either unregistered middlemen or outright fraudsters who prey on people desperate to rent an apartment quickly.
But why is this happening so often? The surface response would be high demand for housing, a lack of regulation, and people rushing to secure apartments without proper checks.
In this article, you’ll learn how to spot the red flags, avoid rental scams, and safely find a place to call home without getting duped.
Why the Realtor Scam Problem Is Rampant in Surulere
From the stories we hear and the direct experience we have with popular agents in Surulere, several factors contribute to why the realtor scam problem is especially rampant in this part of Lagos.
1. High Demand for Affordable Housing
About 98.5 percent of Lagos residents live in rented apartments, according to a report by BuyLetLive.
“This demand is particularly strong in affordable areas that offer amenities and proximity to workplaces. The top three residential areas in high demand in Lagos are Yaba, Surulere, and Gbagada.
“The current housing deficit in Lagos State is over three million units. This highlights a significant gap between the demand for and supply of residential properties in the state,” it indicated.
This high demand creates a sense of urgency among prospective tenants, especially those relocating from other parts of Lagos or even from out of town.
Dubious agents exploit this desperation by creating fake urgency and offering seemingly good deals that require instant payment.
2. Low Entry Barrier into the “Realtor” Business
One of the biggest issues is that anyone can call themselves a realtor in Surulere.
There’s no central licensing or regulation system that verifies who is qualified to operate as a real estate agent.
Because of this, many self-proclaimed “agents” or “caretakers” operate with no real legal backing or accountability.
All they need is a phone number, a WhatsApp status, and maybe a few photos of random apartments to begin scamming unsuspecting renters.
3. Poor Housing Regulation and Enforcement
The Lagos real estate sector is largely unregulated, especially at the grassroots level.
In places like Surulere, there’s minimal government oversight on rental transactions, agent conduct, or the verification of housing listings.
Until recently, hardly anyone believed rent regulation in Lagos was even up for discussion.
After Enugu State made headlines for proposing a bill to check the excesses of landlords and housing agents, Lagos also followed suit.
For example, after Jubril Gawat, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Sanwo-Olu, made a hint, the following happened:
- The Tenancy Law of 2015 is still subsisting.
- The bill for a new Tenancy law is under due consideration at the Lagos State House of Assembly and yet to be passed into Law.
- The reviewed bill is set to address rental pricing, monthly payment, and scrap out the illegal middle-man structure.
- The Lagos government has warned real estate agents and landlords against collecting tenancy agreement fees higher than the legally stipulated 10% of yearly rent from prospective tenants.
- There’s the www.lasrera.lagosstate.gov.ng portal that allows Lagosians to report cases of fraud by estate agents in the state.
This surely covers Surulere and other parts of Lagos.
However, we’re still in the early stage of nationwide enforcement of this housing regulation thing. With no central body to report or prosecute fake agents, many scammers continue operating with impunity, even after being exposed.
Some just change their phone number or move to a new street and continue the scam under a different alias.
4. The Use of Middlemen and Unstructured Networks
Another reason scams thrive in Surulere is the multi-layered agent system.
A single apartment may be handled by three or four different agents, each claiming to have “direct access” to the property.
By the time you find out the real story, they may have already paid a non-refundable “inspection fee” or part of the rent to someone with no connection to the landlord.
This tangled network of agents makes it hard to trace responsibility or get refunds.
5. Lack of Proper Documentation
Dubious agents in Surulere often operate with little to no documentation. Many don’t provide:
- Receipts
- Agreements
- Landlord contact information
- Valid ID cards
This absence of documentation makes it easy for them to disappear after collecting money.
Legitimate realtors, on the other hand, usually work with property managers, lawyers, or landlords directly and provide verifiable paperwork.
However, most victims of scams are unaware of what a legitimate transaction should look like.
6. Tenants Are Often in a Hurry
Due to high competition, many people are afraid to miss a good deal and tend to rush into paying without doing due diligence.
Scammers know this and create artificial scarcity, claiming multiple people are “coming to inspect” or that “someone has already paid part.”
7. Word-of-Mouth Referrals (That Can Be Misleading)
Surprisingly, even referrals can lead to scams in Surulere.
Some victims fall prey to someone they know (a friend’s cousin, an uncle’s contact, or a neighbor’s agent).
The scammer may have once helped someone secure a house (legitimately or luckily), so their name circulates in the community.
However, as their network grows, some of these agents begin to exploit the trust and refer people to fake listings or charge exorbitant non-refundable fees.
How to Identify a Dubious Realtor in Lagos
Dubious realtors are everywhere. But here are ways you can identify and avoid them:
1. They Don’t Have an Office or Verifiable Address
A real agent should have a physical office or a clear place where you can find them if anything goes wrong. If the agent only meets you on the road, in front of a gate, or tells you, “I’m always around, don’t worry,” that’s a warning sign.
QUICK TIP:
- Ask to visit their office or meet them in a known location like a property agency. If they keep giving excuses, walk away.
2. They Avoid Giving You the Landlord’s Contact
Genuine realtors usually let you speak with the landlord or caretaker after you inspect the property. But fake agents will avoid giving you any contact. They’ll say things like:
- “Oga is not around.”
- “The landlord doesn’t like to speak directly with tenants.”
- “I’m the one handling everything, trust me.”
This is often because they don’t have any real link to the property.
3. They Ask for Money Before You Even See the House
A very common scam in Surulere is collecting “inspection fees” or commitment payments before showing you the apartment.
While some genuine agents collect small inspection fees, dubious ones charge high amounts and disappear afterward.
QUICK TIP:
- Never pay any money before seeing the apartment. And even after inspection, don’t rush payment without paperwork.
4. They Rush You to Make Decisions
Scammers love to pressure you with fake urgency. They say:
- “Someone else is about to pay.”
- “If you don’t pay now, I’ll give it to another person.”
- “You must pay today to secure it.”
They create panic to make you act without thinking. This is one of the oldest tricks in the book.
Take your time. A good house is never worth rushing into a scam. If it feels forced or too fast, it’s probably fake.
5. They Refuse to Provide Any Documents
If a realtor can’t provide the following, be very careful:
- A signed agreement
- A receipt for any payment
- A copy of their ID
- A tenancy form
- Pictures of the apartment with location details
It means if anything goes wrong, there’s no proof of your agreement.
6. Their Stories Keep Changing
Pay attention to the details. Dubious agents often change their words.
They first tell you the rent is ₦600,000, later they say it’s ₦750,000. They say the apartment is vacant, but later say someone is still living there.
They say they work with the landlord, but later say they’ve never met him.
Inconsistencies like these mean they are not being honest.
7. They Use Only Sweet Words, Not Facts
Scammers often try to charm you. They’ll say, “You look like a serious person.”
But when you ask real questions like “Who owns the house?”, they can’t answer clearly.
Don’t let sweet talk replace real answers. Ask detailed questions and expect straight answers.
8. They Have No Online Presence or Reviews
Most genuine agents today have either a Google Business profile, a listing on a property website, or a company name you can search online.
But dubious ones have nothing. Just a phone number or a personal WhatsApp. If you search their name or phone number and nothing comes up, be extra careful.
Reliable House Agent In Surulere: Why Trust RentHouseSurulere?
We’ve remained for a long a trusted source for finding various apartments around Surulere for many reasons:
Zero Inspection Fees: Unlike many agents who charge just to show you properties, we offer three free property inspections. You only pay a flat registration fee of ₦10,000 after the third inspection if you haven’t found a place you like yet (which is rare, no kidding).
Transparent Process: We guide you every step of the way, ensuring that you don’t get scammed or overcharged. No hidden charges. No last-minute surprises.
Verified Listings: We work directly with property owners, so the houses we show you in Surulere are genuine, well-located, and fairly priced.
Fast & Personalized Service: Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly one-room self-contained or a more premium apartment, we take your needs seriously and work hard to find you the right apartment quickly.
Extensive Network: If the perfect home isn’t in our direct listing, we collaborate with other agents to expand your options. In such cases, inspection fees may apply since sister agents set their own policies.
How To Find Houses For Rent in Surulere
- Go to our website (https://renthouseSurulere.com/)
- Navigate to the Request Property page
- Fill out the form on the page with your details.
You’ll need to provide your name, contact number, and rental preference (whether you’re looking to rent, buy, or sell a property).
Also, include your budget, preferred location in Surulere, and expected move-in date. There’s also a section for additional details.
We show you available properties related to what you inserted in less than 24 hours.
QUICK TIP:
- You can skip all these steps and simply reach us on Whatsapp, with your specs and preference. You’ll be surprised at how fast we provide you with video, pictures, and price options based on your request – because we have them ready to go.
Before anything, we would even give you personalized recommendations based on various neighborhoods in Surulere because we know this city like the back of our hand.
