Landlords in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Calabar and other major cities in the country hesitate to rent their houses to single ladies and widows, a practice that has become a trend. What could be responsible for this? In this report, PAUL OKAH examines some of the factors, and also captures the views and experiences of landlords, tenants and other stakeholders.
As long as house hunting in Nigeria is concerned, being a single lady or a widow appears to be a great disadvantage or even an unforgivable sin as many landlords/landladies deliberately refuse to rent their houses to the aforementioned.
Blueprint Weekend’s investigation revealed that many landlords entertain fears of delay in rent renewal, blackmail, prostitution and negative influences of single ladies and widows on other tenants.
In fact, many landladies vehemently oppose renting out their houses to single ladies and widows. Landladies are often suspicious or afraid that single ladies and widows may come with temptations of unholy relationship with their male children and husbands. In order to protect their territorial integrity, therefore, they deny single ladies and widows tenancy.
Societal prejudices, patriarchal beliefs and other factors have also ensured that the development is not restricted to any particular state in Nigeria as single ladies and widows in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Uyo, Abakaliki and other major cities across the country face the same issue of discrimination on the basis of gender.
I lied to get an apartment – Widow
Speaking with Blueprint Weekend, a civil servant in Abuja, Stephanie Maduka, said she was rejected by many landlords for being a widow and had to lie before she could secure an apartment.
She said: “I have experienced rejections by landlords as a widow seeking an apartment. After realising that I was a widow, they would reject me as if I couldn’t pay. I was forced to come up with a new strategy. While going house-hunting, I would dress up beautifully and responsibly. When they asked about my husband, I would lie that he lived in Canada. That’s how I was finally able to secure an accommodation.
“From my experience, landlords are scared of renewals by single ladies and widows. Many landlords don’t like giving women houses because of troubles. Some widows can use their status to blackmail you. They can call the police on you as their landlord, claiming you oppress them because they are widows. Anyone who hears her part of the story will not even listen to you. That is the drama most of the landlords are trying to avoid.
“Most of the landlords feed and pay bills from the rent they collect, so they feel a single lady or widow won’t be consistent with the rent. Landlords want a steady income earner that is capable of paying rent without giving emotional excuses, and you can’t blame the landlords for that because it’s business. “Others are avoiding being accused of having something to do with the single lady or widow.”
Single ladies, widows engage in emotional blackmail – Estate agent
Speaking with our reporter, a real estate agent in Lagos, Anietie Blessing, said widows and single ladies are difficult to deal with as they indulge in emotional blackmail when it comes to rent renewal and bill payment.
She said: “In my few years experience as a realtor, a lot of landlords have preference for the kind of tenants they want in their apartments, most times because of their previous experiences, especially issues of renewal. Some landlords prefer civil servants.
“Some can never take remote workers as they believe every remote worker is a fraud. Some landlords prefer male to females, while some don’t want certain tribes. The list goes on. At times, the fear of these landlords is that single ladies are promiscuous.
“In fact, they fear that widows, since their husbands are dead, will be bringing different men into their houses, thereby exposing their houses to criminals. Some can only allow a widow when they know she has children and she is not idle. Single ladies and widows engage in emotional blackmail when it comes to bill payment.
“So, landlords feel the women need a support system, a man to pay rent. Unfortunately, some women put other women in this position. This is the outcome of ‘a man is supposed to take care of me’.
“Overtime, the vast majority of women have shown and given the impression that they can’t be accountable. People, including landlords, took notice and ran with the narrative, to know how they dealt with them on any level. This might not change soon, sadly.”
Also speaking with our reporter, a landlord in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, Mr. Philip Adeniran, said he will never accept widows again in his property as a result of numerous factors.
According to him, “As a landlord, I can’t advise anyone to give his house to a widow. They always feel like you are wicked when it’s time for them to pay bills. They will repeat the ‘if my husband was alive, I will not be suffering like this’ statement. Anything that involves pity, just avoid it because it will ruin your rent business. For them to park out, if they can’t pay rent again, is usually a problem.
“Because my widow tenant has given me troubles, if I succeed in evicting her, I don’t think I will let another widow in my house. Most of them tend to use their ‘widow’ status to guilt trip you when you press for your house rent. So, if a landlord rejects widows or single ladies, don’t blame them; they are acting from experience. Some of the ladies will turn your house into a brothel if you’re not careful.
“In fact, my former tenant brought in men to sleep with her in the same room where the children slept. I informed her about the implications, including the damages she will cause the children. I went as far as reminding her that the children won’t appreciate her efforts later.
“I even told her to bring one man and I will accept him to be visiting. But she refused, saying it’s not my business. I had to give her notice to quit. Therefore, I will never repeat the experience of renting my house to a single lady or a jobless widow.”
“Men are easier to deal with”
In a chat with our reporter, a real estate agent in Abakaliki, Mrs. Sophia Emeka, said men are easier to deal with than women, hence, landlords avoid complications by not renting to single ladies and widows.
“I recently took a widow client to pay for a house she liked. The landlady outrightly declined the payment, stating she does not want to give her house to an old widow because she knows she can’t pay for the light bills and so on. The woman cried that day. Many landlords are tired of pity scripts when widows and single ladies can’t renew their rents. Most turn the house to brothels or multiple men.
“Moreover, most women are believed to rely on men for survival and the one without a man in her life is seen as not capable enough, especially with kids, as she is going to play the role of a father and mother. Landlords don’t like to be owed,” she said.
Accommodation denial on gender basis is unlawful – Lawyer
Speaking with Blueprint Weekend, a legal practitioner in Abuja, Kingsley Oseni, Esq, said it is unconstitutional to deny accommodation to Nigerians as a result of gender, religion, ethnic prejudices, advising single ladies and widows to fight for their rights.
He said: “Landlords in Nigeria often refuse to rent houses to widows, primarily due to societal prejudices, patriarchal beliefs, and financial stereotypes. These factors lead to assumptions that widows may lack financial stability or be a social “nuisance” to the neighborhood.
“Landlords often assume that without a husband’s income, a widow will be unable to consistently pay the rent or other bills. They are wary of potential difficulties in rent renewal and prefer tenants perceived as more financially secure, such as married couples or single men with traceable employment.
“However, Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees freedom from discrimination on the basis of ethnic group, sex, place of origin, religion, political opinion or disability. The provision also goes with Article 25 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which prohibits discrimination and recognises the right to adequate housing as a component of the basic standard of living.
“This right to adequate housing contains freedoms, they include protection against forced evictions, the arbitrary destruction and demolition of one’s home; The right to be free from arbitrary interference with one’s home, privacy and family; and the right to choose one’s residence, to determine where to live and to freedom of movement. Therefore, single ladies and widows should learn to fight for their rights when rejected by landlords.”
Read more on Blueprint Newspapers Limited
