The Ebonyi State Government has approved three draft bills for transmission to the State House of Assembly to regulate house rents, estate agent fees, and the scrap metal trade in the state.
The proposed laws are aimed at protecting residents from arbitrary charges, ensuring professionalism in the real estate sector, and curbing vandalism associated with scrap metal dealings.
According to the State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Chief Ikeuwah Omebeh, the bills seek to address growing concerns over excessive house rents and exploitative practices by estate agents.
Under the proposed legislation, estate agents will be restricted to collecting fees not exceeding two percent of the total rent paid by tenants. The law also aims to ensure that only qualified and registered agents are allowed to operate in the state.
The second bill focuses on the regulation of the scrap metal trade. It seeks to control the buying, selling, possession, transportation, and disposal of metal and electrical scraps in order to curb vandalism, protect the environment, and promote public safety.
Chief Omebeh explained that the State Executive Council approved the transmission of the bills to the House of Assembly following complaints from residents about the activities of estate agents and scrap dealers.
He noted that the measures are part of the government’s efforts to sanitise the real estate sector and check the rising cases of vandalism linked to the scrap metal business in the state.
The commissioner added that the proposed laws, when passed, would bring sanity to the affected sectors and protect both tenants and property owners from exploitation.
The bills are expected to be presented to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly for legislative consideration and passage into law.
Stakeholders in the real estate and scrap metal sectors are expected to be consulted during the legislative process to ensure the laws are effective and practical.
