IMPACT OF INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE ON RENT COLLECTION: A CASE STUDY OF GWALLAMEJI COMMUNITY

This research, titled : Impact of Increase in Property Value on Rent Collection: A Case Study of Gwallameji Community, focuses on assessing how increases in property values affect rent collection in Gwallameji Community, a suburban area within Bauchi Metropolis. The study investigates the methods of rent collection employed by residential property owners, uncovering the relationship between rising property values and the rent collection challenges that most property owners in Gwallameji face. The study reveals that traditional rent collection methods, such as direct cash payments, still dominate, while the government is not actively participating in rent control and regulation. Where the government is involved in rent control and regulation, it does not effectively influence rent collection practices. Escalating property values increase landlords’ expectations for higher rents, thereby impacting tenants and leading to conflict and default in rent payment. The study also found that the absence of a viable rent control policy and rising compliance costs associated with increasing property values led landlords to adjust rent upward arbitrarily, often without regard to tenants’ income levels or market realities. On the other hand, it was observed that while the increase in property values has improved rental income for landlords, it has imposed severe strain on tenants, making affordable rent difficult to maintain. The research recommends strengthening public awareness of tenant rights, effective rent control policies, and the use of digital rent collection platforms to improve compliance and convenience. It also encourages local authorities to monitor and regulate rent increases more effectively. The research concludes with a call for further research to explore the long-term effects of rising property values on rent collection in similar communities.