Scores of tenants have expressed their frustrations with estate agents for the housing crisis in the Greater Banjul Area.

They claimed that the agents were making their lives unbearable and accused them of being “our big problem”.

The tenants were expressing their frustrations on a group for self-employed people in need of houses. 

Lamin Yabou, a tenant, called on the Kanifing Municipality to help stop the agents from intruding on rental issues, saying they are making life unbearable for tenants because they are asking for huge amounts of money before entering such houses.

“They make it polarise that only foreigners can have room in this country but ordinary Gambians cannot have rent in their own country,” he said.

However, Sheikh Joof an agent countered that: “this is our work and sometimes the reason why we charge high is because the job is so hard. 

“Sometimes even us the agent struggle very hard to locate a particular place and have discussion with the landlord for commission, also sometimes you can take a tenant to a particular flat and later they will not take it.”

According to him, agents introduce payment policy because of the hardship they face in their job. 

He said: “As for me, I know tenants that are desperately looking for houses and have no money to pay agents because I am also a tenant and I know how it feels to be in such situation but some of my fellow agents are greedy and they can charge more than the price of movement especially the agents in the offices.”

Meanwhile, Kebba Sano, a landlord, detailed that they introduced the six-month tax policy because some tenants are “not serious”.

“They rent for one month and the following month they move with debts which does not favour them, saying that no one will just leave a house after paying six months deposit,” he said.

He added: “Agent take very responsible tenant actions because some tenants are not reliable and full of violence but with the involvement of agents at least the landlord can be at peace. 

“We also suffer in the hands of the tenants especially when they refuse to pay their debts as some tenants will not pay on time and still want to control the landlords which cannot be possible.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba