By Juliana E. P. Kabba
Freetown, Sierra Leone — A troubling trend has emerged in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, where desperate renters are reportedly being extorted by housing agents. As the demand for affordable and decent housing continues to outstrip supply, many renters find themselves financially drained and disillusioned with the housing market.
The housing crisis in Freetown has been exacerbated by the influx of people from rural areas seeking better opportunities in the city. This migration has fueled a surge in demand for accommodation, particularly in more developed areas. While housing agents are supposed to facilitate the process of finding a home, numerous reports suggest that some agents are exploiting the situation to take advantage of those in urgent need of housing.
Mariam Kamara, a 32-year-old teacher, is among the many victims of these unscrupulous practices. She shared her frustrating experience with The Watch Newspaper: “I spent over three months searching for a two-bedroom apartment in the Western Area. Every agent I contacted demanded an exorbitant fee upfront just to show me the properties. After paying one agent Le300 as a ‘viewing fee,’ he disappeared and never returned my calls. When I finally reached him, he claimed all the properties had been taken and refused to offer a refund.”
Kamara’s ordeal is not an isolated incident. Other renters have reported similar experiences, where they paid viewing fees only to be shown dilapidated properties that fell far short of their expectations or, in some cases, nothing at all. These fees are often non-refundable, and agents frequently change the terms once a potential tenant shows interest in a property.
One housing agent, speaking on the condition of anonymity, acknowledged that charging high upfront fees has become a common practice among agents in Freetown. “It’s tough to make ends meet with just the small commissions we get from landlords,” he explained. “Some agents charge extra fees to cover their costs and make a little extra. It’s not right, but it’s the way things are.”
The consequences for renters, particularly those with lower incomes, can be severe. Many find themselves in precarious financial situations after dealing with these agents, adding to the stress and uncertainty of securing housing in an already challenging market.
To address the scale of this problem, The Watch Newspaper reached out to Ibrahim Bangura, a local housing advocate, who expressed deep concern over the lack of regulation in the housing sector.
