Lagos State government has advised real estate agents and property consultants in the state to commence their registration with the Lagos State Real Estate Transaction Department (LASRETRAD) in compliance with the law that established the department.
The department under the supervision of Special Adviser on Housing, Hon. Jimoh Ajao, also implored Lagosians to patronize only qualified agents that registered with LASRETRAD urging the people to desist from patronizing un–registered agents who can run away with their hard earned money while looking for a decent accommodation.
Ajao said LASRETRAD was set up by the state government to checkmate the activities of the unscrupulous Estate Agents who had bastardised the noble profession.
He said the registration of estate agents had fully commenced and various members of organisations/institutions such as Nigerian Institute Estate Surveyor & Valuer (NIESV) and Estate Rent & Commission Agents Association of Nigeria (ERCAAN) are now registering their members.
According to him, the need to provide affordable housing for the increasing population of the state has become a major concern of the state government and this was what informed the various strategic steps taken by the Fashola led administration to check the activities of the quacks in the Real Estate Sector of the state.
The purpose of the agency is to enhance Lagos position as an investment destination and to further create a sustainable climate for doing business in the state. This was what informed the recent pronouncement by the office of Head of Service that only registered estate agents be patronized by state government Ministries, Department & Agencies.
The establishment of LASRETRAD is one of the present administrative giant strides towards protecting the right of stakeholders, residents and practitioners of real estate business in the state with a view to further creating service delivery that will impact positively on the economic growth of the state.
