Crystal Garden Estate Marks 10 Years, CEO Seeks Govt Intervention in Arbitrary Rent Hikes
Chief Executive Officer of Crystal Garden Estate, Ambassador Kevin Simeon Chukwu
By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha
The Chief Executive Officer of Crystal Garden Estate, Ambassador Kevin Simeon Chukwu, has called on all tiers of government to intervene in the indiscriminate and arbitrary increase in house rents across the country.
Ambassador Chukwu attributed the rising cost of rent primarily to the activities of unregulated property agents. He emphasized the urgent need for the government to formulate and enforce policies that would not only regulate rent increases but also streamline the operations of real estate agents.
He made this call during the 10th anniversary celebration of Crystal Garden Estate, held at the Patterson Auditorium, All Saints Anglican Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.
According to him, there is an urgent need for legislation to curb the unchecked rise in rent, lamenting that many agents earn more from buildings than the landlords themselves.
“In many cases, the agents profit more from a property than the actual owner,” he noted.
Ambassador Chukwu decried the challenges faced by individuals seeking accommodation, especially in light of the global economic downturn.
He blamed the situation on unscrupulous agents who impose outrageous rent prices, making it difficult for average citizens to secure decent housing.
As a seasoned real estate developer, Chukwu reflected on the past decade of his involvement in the sector.
He said his mission has been to positively impact the industry and re-write its narrative.
“There have been too many unfortunate stories,people paying for land and never seeing it, or never receiving allocation papers. Crystal Garden Estate was established to change that narrative.
“In our estate, when you own land, you can sleep with both eyes closed. You don’t need to worry about disputes or fraudulent claims. We guarantee peace of mind,” he added.
Ambassador Chukwu reiterated that his motivation for establishing a real estate business stemmed from a desire to bring integrity to the sector, transform lives, and help people achieve their dreams, especially in the midst of economic hardship.
He further explained that his long-term goal is to help reduce the housing deficit in Nigeria.
“Our aim is to ensure that every person owns a home, starting with owning a piece of land. Once you have land, you can start small and build gradually. There is no vacuum in life; if you focus your energy on a project, the result will surprise you,” he advised.
The anniversary celebration was well-attended by land agents, investors, and motivational speakers, including business mogul Chief Godwin Okeke (CEO, G.U.O Group), Dr. Cosmas Maduka (CEO, Coscharis Group), and Evangelist Nnamdi Eze, among others.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of cars to fourteen individuals and the conferral of awards on several distinguished guests.
