Accomodating expatriates

I know this is a delicate topic, but I have received numerous requests for accommodation from expatriates and can only surmise that a few of them must think they are dealing with idiots in Nigeria! I got a request recently from someone who sounded foreign and I guess was not African, asking for an apartment to rent in old Ikoyi, that had a swimming pool, gym, good security etc That is all fine, as I do get these requests often, but he went on to say, “I only want to live beside other expatriates, so if there are none as neighbours I will not take the accommodation”  He said “You must show me evidence of where they work, their family size and nationality” Ye Gads!  In my own country!  In this day and age! Had the man lost his mind or was he within his rights to demand such accommodation? Actually what law was there preventing him from doing so? I was so taken aback that I had to ask if he minded cats or dogs as neighbours! He said he did not, so I politely told him I would get back to him and calmly put the phone down, my head reeling, did he think I was also an expatriate or why did he feel that he could say this to me?

One thing I do know is that if this was in the United Kingdom or United States, he could never have gotten away with such a statement as there are strict laws prohibiting discriminating statements like this, whether in housing, employment or wherever. Of course I am not naive to think discrimination whether overt or covert, does not exist, but when it is handed to you on a plate in your own country, it is quite shocking. On another occasion I was called out to an apartment block as one of the few black families in the complex had noticed that when they or their kids went to use the swimming pool, while some other expatriate families were using it, they got dirty looks and the expatriate family left the pool. On this occasion, the expatriate family had asked one of the black kids if they had taken a bath before entering the pool!

Whilst I am not alluding to the fact that most expatriate families are not peace loving, friendly people, it still shocks me when I come across isolated cases like these, where it seems that some only want to live their lives in isolation in the country that invited them in to work and make loads of money. The solution to their prejudices should be for them not to come into the country at all, rather than come in discriminate between who they want to talk to or live next to.

The standard of accommodation for expatriates is usually of much higher specifications than for the average Nigerian, with extra facilities like swimming pools and gyms, internet facilities, communal DSTV, CCTV etc, for which there is a high service charge. The fact remains that they can more often than not afford these extra luxuries provided for their comfort, usually company paid.  In saying this though, there is no reason why the standard of accommodation for the average Nigerian is not improved on. Everyone deserves to live in well built and functional homes in a nice clean environment. It does not cost an arm and a leg to put up blocks of low rise simple well built flats on mini estates in decent areas. There are loads of luxury apartments on the island, sitting empty for upwards of 2 or more years, mainly because multinational companies are cutting back on their accommodation budgets, as well as the exorbitant rents being charged by landlords.  Rent for the expat market is still being set in dollars and not naira. I am still not sure what the reasoning behind this is, as this way of marketing sends a clear message that these properties are mainly for the expat market and generally offer better services. If only landlords would move away from their general expectations that they will get one corporate let, which means one company (usually a multinational) renting the whole complex of apartments for their staff. The property market is evolving and what obtained one, two or three years ago has definitely changed. Landlords should and must lower their rents in order to attract the local professionals who have a bit of money in their pockets and would like to live as well as the expatriate does. After all it is a free country and luxury living should be open and inclusive to all who can afford it.

Caroline A. Akinlotan