Lagos deepens Rent-to-Own home ownership scheme, gives another 200 house keys
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 that the State Government presently has over four thousand housing units yet to be subscribed for across different areas of the State.
According to him, the State Government has already mapped out 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, this 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, seventy-five 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 are 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 schemes in Sangotedo, Ajara in Badagry, Igbogbo, Igando Gardens, Egan-Igando would be completed and made available to Lagosians before the end of the year.
He solicited for support from the allottees to assume responsibility for the estates by cooperating with the facilities managers in ensuring that the facilities are put to good use. Efforts should be geared towards ensuring that the environments are kept clean always. The allottees are to ensure that they pay their rent as at when due and embrace maintenance culture” he added.
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said that 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 the state 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 house out rightly.
He said that the five per cent commitment fee payment is perhaps the best that any State Government can offer all over the world, adding that testimonials of beneficiaries of the scheme speak volume about the transparent nature of the initiative from the application stage to the handing over of keys.
Earlier in his address, the General Manager Lagos State Mortgage Board, Mr. Dehinde Tunwashe stated that the testimonies of some of the first hundred allottees last month are enough evidence to convince people that the Rent-To-Own policy of the State Government is real and that they should be encouraged to apply.
He said, “The hand-over ceremony we are witnessing today will be an event that will go down in the history of Lagos State and generations to come.”
