Menace of recalcitrant tenants in metropolitan Ibadan area's residential property market, Nigeria

PurposeManagement factors of recalcitrant tenants in residential premises have become central concerns of many private residential property owners in Ibadan metropolis. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causes and dimension of the phenomena so as to prevent the loss of rent and encourage investment in rental housing in the city.Design/methodology/approachThe study elicited data through personal and direct administration of questionnaires on 51 estate surveying and valuation firms. The data collected included companies' profiles, years of property management experience, properties in their management portfolio, tenants' selection, category of recalcitrant tenants, handling techniques and influencing factors.FindingsResults indicated that act of non‐compliance and adherence to ethics of property management by estate surveyors and valuers (managers) in the area constitutes a major cause of recalcitrant tenants. Also, estate surveyors and valuers disregard some relevant factors while selecting tenants to fill vacancies such as police report, family factor, rental arrears, maintenance culture, personal/family crisis and mental illness/addiction. These, among others, consequently affect the objectives of investing in rental properties in the metropolis.Practical implicationsThe study recommends strict compliance to ethics (rules and regulations) put down in the constitution of NIESV (2005). Also estate surveyors and valuers (managers) should be encouraged to attend mandatory continuing professional development (MCPD). Lease/tenancy agreement should be clearly reached, documented and implemented. All transactions in residential property management should be executed at “arm's length” with transparency without bias.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research is needed to undertake statistical references through a comprehensive survey of all types of tenant: private/public tenants, commercial properties tenants and agricultural land tenants in Ibadan land.Originality/valueThe study helps to identity categories of recalcitrant tenants in residential properties, the rental residential properties occupied, causes of recalcitrance and treatment approaches of recalcitrant tenants.