Rent-To-Own: Lagos presents 200 homes to second batch of allottees

The Lagos State Government has handed over keys to another set of 200 applicants of the Lagos-Rent-To-Own initiative with a promise to sustain the policy with the partnership of private investors.

The State Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, during the handing-over ceremony, said the State Government presently had over 4,000 housing units yet to be subscribed for across different parts of the State.

According to him, the State Government had already mapped out a sustainability strategy such that upon exhausting the available units, partnership collaboration would be ignited with the private sector for another round of 20,000 housing units.

“Beyond any doubt, the State government made 100 residents of the State house owners in their own rights last month. This month also, another set of 200 home owners have emerged under this initiative. We will continue with this method until the housing deficit in the State is reasonably bridged.

“I am happy to report also that out of the 100 allottees that got their allocation from the State Government last year, 75 of them have moved into their homes and they are enjoying their residency. I urge others to quickly take possession so that the objectives of the policy can be fully realized.”

He attributed the increment from last month’s 100 Units to 200 Units this month, to increasing demand from applicants who were desirous of becoming home owners under the scheme.

The Commissioner further disclosed that more windows of opportunities would be opened to other residents of the State as some government housing units in Sangotedo, Ajara in Badagry, Igbogbo, Egan-Igando would be completed and made available to Lagosians before the end of the year.

He solicited support from the allottees to assume responsibility for the estates by cooperating with the facilities’ managers in ensuring that the facilities were put to good use.

He said efforts should be geared towards ensuring that the environment is kept clean always. The allottees, he said, were to ensure that they pay their rent as and when due and embrace maintenance culture.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said with the Rent-To-Own policy, Lagos is on course in addressing the housing deficit in the State.

The Commissioner, who acknowledged the huge housing deficit in Lagos when compared with other States in the country, said the State Government chose the path of Rent-To-Own, to save low and middle income earners the burden of paying for houses outrightly.

He said the five per cent commitment fee payment is perhaps the best that any State Government could offer the world over, adding that testimonials of beneficiaries of the scheme speaks volume about the transparent nature of the initiative from the application stage to the handing over of keys.‎