Is it right for landlords to screen tenants before giving out their houses?
Many landlords are fond of asking prospective tenants questions bothering on their lifestyles, size of family, nature of job amongst others.
Some even go to the extent of asking for the tenants’ resumption and a closing hour from work, types and number of visitors to be allowed and time to go and come in.
Others questions landlords ask is the prospective tenant’s religion, marital status, age and tribe.
Many Nigerians interviewed are of the view that landlords have no rights to ask about tenants’ private life so far he/ she is ready to pay rent as at when due.
Mathew Kolade, an Abuja resident argued that landlords asking questions concerning tenants’ lifestyle is an invasion of their privacy which should be discouraged. He said, ‘’Some of these landlords are so annoying that they even ask you, especially if you are single not to bring the opposite sex home. For God`s sake; is one renting a house or prison? A friend, once told me, that a landlord asked her whether she is not a prayer warrior because he doesn’t want any tenant to disturb with prayers.’’
Obinna Okeke, who is also an Abuja resident, said that he was confronted with questions that made him rescind his decision to rent a particular house in Kubwa, a satellite town in Abuja.
“Can you imagine him (caretaker) asking: whether I drink or smoke, keep girlfriends or have loudspeakers. I think it is unnecessary to ask an adult who knows left from right such questions,’’ said Obinna.
But a landlord George Collins said that the landlords just wanted to know the kind of tenants they keep in their houses as a safety measure.
He, however, said that’s not discrimination or invasion of tenants’ privacy. He said, ‘’It is a way of setting the standard for the kind or quality of tenant a landlord requires in his or her property. Landlords have obligations of tenant selection as they have to avoid any distortions in cash flows. He is expected to protect and guide his investment by insisting on good tenants to ensure prompt payment of rent, good neighbourliness and proper house maintenance.
