on Residential Property Market,
in Elu, Delta State, Nigeria
FEATURED PAPER
By Chukwuma I. Elizabeth
Delta State, Nigeria
Abstract
The rapid rise in Nigeria’s population has led to a corresponding increase in demand for rental housing prompting real estate investors to capitalize on the opportunity by providing private rental housing for the teeming population and offset government’s inability to provide adequate accommodation. As the source of income of a rented house is the tenant, it is important for the landlord or his agent to select the possible tenant. The study assessed gender discrimination in the property market of Delta state with a view to promoting equal access to rights and occupation. The study adopts a survey research method. Structured questionnaires were administered to 120 property owners in Elu residential neighborhood, in which 100 was retrieved. Data collected were analysed using Weight Mean Score (WMS) to rank factors influencing gender discrimination. Findings revealed that though important criteria such as economic and financial constraints, socio cultural norms, power dynamics were important factors however demographic factors such as ethnicity, marital status and religion ranked high in order of importance. The study recommends enactment of legislation (policy reform) that is devoid of bias and discrimination, awareness and education through orientation of citizens as well as landlords against any form of discrimination as regards house occupation, community engagement to improve social integration in the rental housing market,
Keywords: Gender; Discrimination; Property; Residential; Market; Elu; Delta state
Introduction
The rental housing market is one of the biggest investment property markets, which gives common leverage for all accommodation seekers to have access to housing irrespective of sociodemographic, economic status and ethnicity differences. The characteristics of real estate as an inflation hedge makes it an attractive investment for investors to capitalize on the opportunity of providing real estate for rent to the teeming population. While access to housing by everyone remains a fundamental human right, limited supply remains one of the greater challenges of accessing housing, especially by the minority or venerability groups. Moreover, government support to match the need for shelter and its availability has been burdened with the duo problem of overpopulation, discrimination and substantial housing shortfall of over 600,000 units (Igbinoba, 2017). Meir, et al. (2008) explained that gender discrimination in the rental housing market refers to a situation where some category of individuals (minorities) are denied by the market agents such as landlords and estate agents from showing or renting properties of their choice or experienced worse treatment in the housing search process.
Gender discrimination remains a pervasive issue in the property market of Delta state, Nigeria, perpetuating inequality and limiting economic empowerment. Despite constitutional guarantees of equal rights, significant barriers in accessing and occupying property such as deep rooted socio-cultural norms and biases perpetuate gender discrimination, marginalizing individuals’ property rights and restricting ability to participate fully in the property market. This discrimination not only undermines economic potential but also has far-reaching consequences for social and political well-being. Evidence of gender discrimination in the rental housing market has been reported in the housing sector in different countries across the globe and OECD countries (Flage, 2018). Despite, prohibition by local and international bodies across the globe, such as Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Michigan’s Elliot–Larsen Civil Rights Act, National Housing Policy among others were introduced to eradicate discrimination in the housing sector (Choi, 2005).
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How to cite this paper: Elizabeth, C. I. (2024). Investigating Gender Discrimination on Property Residential Market, in Elu, Delta State, Nigeria; PM World Journal, Vol. XIII, Issue VIII, August. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pmwj144-Aug2024-Elizabeth-investigating-gender-descrimination-in-residential-property-market.pdf
About the Author
Chukwuma I. Elizabeth
Ozoro, Delta State, Nigeria
Chukwuma Isioma Elizabeth is an Assistant Lecturer at Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, Delta State. She received both bachelor’s and master’s degree in Estate Management from Federal University of Technology, Akure. Her current field interests include land administration, land economics and property values. She can be contacted at isiomaelizabeth01@gmail.com
