Editorial Comment
For many Malawians looking for a house to rent, the search for accommodation has increasingly become more than a simple exercise of finding a suitable place to live.
It has become a costly, frustrating and sometimes risky process in which prospective tenants can be asked to pay money before even seeing a property, charged multiple fees by different agents and, in some cases, left without a house after parting with their hard-earned money.
This situation calls for sanity, transparency and stronger enforcement in the house-agency business.
House agents play an important role in the property market. They connect landlords with prospective tenants, help people find accommodation and can save both parties considerable time.
However, the absence of clear and consistently enforced standards for some agents has created room for abuse and exploitation.
One of the biggest concerns is the amount of money tenants are sometimes required to pay before securing accommodation.
In addition to rent and security deposits, prospective tenants may be asked to pay viewing fees, agency fees, transport-related charges and other expenses.
When a person is desperately looking for accommodation, especially after relocating for work or education, the pressure to pay can be considerable.
The problem becomes even more serious when several people claiming to be agents advertise the same property or when an individual advertises a property without having proper authority from the landlord.
A prospective tenant may pay money only to discover that the property is unavailable, already occupied or was never genuinely available for rent.
This is where regulation and accountability become important.
A professional house-agent system should require agents to clearly identify themselves, disclose the landlord or property owner’s authority to let the property and provide receipts for every payment made by a prospective tenant.Charges should also be clearly explained before any money changes hands.
Tenants, for their part, should not be encouraged to pay simply because an agent claims that other people are waiting for the same house.
They should be allowed to inspect the property, establish who owns or legally controls it and understand exactly what they are paying for.
There is also a need for landlords to take responsibility. Property owners should know who is marketing their houses and what fees are being demanded from prospective tenants in their name.
Giving an unknown individual control over the rental process without proper oversight can expose both landlords and tenants to disputes.
The authorities and relevant professional bodies should also examine whether existing laws and regulations are adequate to deal with abuses in the property-rental sector.
Where rules already exist, enforcement should be strengthened. Where gaps exist, they should be addressed.
Malawi’s housing challenges are already significant.According to the 2018 Malawi Population and Housing Census, the country’s population was about 17.6 million, while the population has continued to grow since then.
Rapid urbanisation and population growth have increased pressure on housing in major urban centres such as Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu.
That pressure should not become an excuse for exploiting people who simply want a decent place to live.
The goal should not be to eliminate house agents. Far from it. Genuine agents provide a valuable service and deserve to earn a reasonable income.
The objective should be to separate legitimate professionals from individuals who take advantage of desperate tenants.
Malawi needs a rental market where prices are transparent, agency charges are known, properties are genuine and payments are properly documented.
Tenants should know their rights, landlords should know their responsibilities and agents should be held accountable for their conduct.
Finding a house should not feel like entering a financial minefield.
It is time to bring sanity among house agents.
