Is It Illegal to Work as an Unregistered Real Estate Agent in Lagos? (LASRERA Registration Guide 2026)

Many agents in Lagos still close deals on WhatsApp with no registration at all. For years, nobody checked. In 2026, that has changed, and LASRERA registration is now the first thing serious clients and the state ask about.

This guide is for realtors, agents, and property firms working in Lagos, or planning to. It explains what the law requires, who it covers, the penalties, and how to register.

By the end, you will know whether you need to register, what it will cost you to ignore it, and what to do next.

Is it illegal to work as an unregistered real estate agent in Lagos?

Yes. Under the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority Law 2022, it is an offence to do real estate business in Lagos without registering with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA). The Lagos State Government confirmed in June 2025 that agents, realtors and practitioners must hold a valid LASRERA certificate before any transaction.

The law was signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on 7 February 2022. On 28 June 2025, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and head of LASRERA, declared unregistered practice illegal, according to Nairametrics.

The same statement went further. It said it is an offence for anyone to even deal with persons or organisations that have not registered. In other words, your clients are also at risk when they use you unregistered.

Eze Maximus, founder of Win Realty Limited, puts it simply: "In Lagos, an unregistered agent is not a cheaper agent. He is a legal risk to his own client.

What is LASRERA?

LASRERA is the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, the state agency that registers, licenses and monitors real estate practitioners in Lagos. It was established under the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority Law 2022. It also investigates complaints, mediates disputes and enforces fee limits in real estate transactions across the state.

LASRERA sits under the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing. Its job is to separate genuine practitioners from fraudsters, and to give residents a place to report them.

Who must register with LASRERA?

Every person or organisation doing real estate business in Lagos must register with LASRERA. That includes independent agents, realtors, brokers, letting agents, property developers, facility managers and property management companies. Agents working under a registered firm should check whether the firm's registration covers them, because LASRERA treats both individuals and organisations as practitioners.

Here is a simple way to check yourself:

LASRERA's own FAQ says registration and licensing follow a licence category based on the type of business you do, according to the LASRERA website.

Estate surveyors and valuers registered with the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVARBON) are a separate federal profession. Their professional bodies have challenged LASRERA's power over them in court. [VERIFY: current court position on whether ESVARBON-registered surveyors must also register with LASRERA]

What are the penalties for unregistered agents in Lagos?

The main penalty for an unregistered real estate agent in Lagos is a fine. Section 48 of the LASRERA Law sets a minimum of ₦250,000 for an individual and ₦1 million for an organisation, according to the law firm Tope Babade & Co. In practice, LASRERA has also sealed offices and recovered money from fraudulent agents.

Enforcement is now visible on the street. In March 2026, LASRERA and the Lagos State Task Force sealed an estate agent's office in the Owutu area of Ikorodu. Officials said the operator had presented himself as a registered LASRERA agent using a fake registration number, according to Nairametrics (20 March 2026).

LASRERA's Director of Compliance and Enforcement said at the site that enforcement would continue and expand to other parts of the state.

The real cost is often bigger than the fine:

• Your office or business can be sealed.

• Clients can report you, and LASRERA can make you refund money.

• Serious clients and developers will refuse to work with you.

• You may struggle to enforce your commission without proof you were legally entitled to act.

Eze Maximus, founder of Win Realty Limited: "The fine is not the real cost. The real cost is the client who checks your number and walks away.

How do you register with LASRERA and what does it cost?

You register with LASRERA online through the authority's portal, under the licence category that matches your business. The cost depends on that category, and LASRERA does not publish one flat fee for everyone. In 2025, stakeholders publicly asked Lagos to review a reported ₦1 million annual fee for agents and developers. Confirm your exact fee on the portal before paying.

LASRERA registration steps

1. Register your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Most applicants will need a business name or company registration first. [VERIFY: whether individual agents can register without a CAC number]

2. Visit the official LASRERA portal at lasrera.lagosstate.gov.ng and create an account.

3. Choose your licence category, for example individual agent, firm, developer or facility manager.

4. Prepare your documents. Expect identification, CAC documents and tax details.

5. Complete any required exam or training.

6. Pay the fee for your category through the portal, and keep your receipt.

7. Receive your certificate and registration number. Display it and share it with every client.

LASRERA's FAQ also mentions an early registration discount.

How clients check you

LASRERA says verification is available through its website, and residents can call 09019999977 or 09019999997, according to the LASRERA FAQ. Expect clients to ask for your number. Give it before they ask.

Does LASRERA registration apply outside Lagos?

No. The registration requirement comes from a Lagos State law and applies only to real estate business carried out in Lagos. Other states set their own rules, and most do not yet have an equivalent agency in force. If you live in Abuja or Port Harcourt but sell Lagos property, the Lagos rules still apply to your Lagos deals.

In Rivers State, the House of Assembly began debating a Real Estate Regulatory Authority Bill in February 2025. For the FCT and other states, check with the state ministry of housing or lands before you practise.

For the full picture of starting out anywhere in Nigeria, read how to become a real estate agent in Nigeria.

What does the proposed Lagos tenancy bill change for agents?

The proposed Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill would make unregistered agency practice a punishable offence under tenancy law and cap agency fees at 5% of annual rent. It is not yet law. In May 2026, the Lagos State Government said the bill was still at committee stage in the House of Assembly.

That status was reported by Gazette Nigeria (27 May 2026). [VERIFY: whether the bill has been passed and signed as of November 2026]

If it passes, registering with LASRERA becomes even more central. Registration would then sit at the heart of two laws, not one, and lettings commission would fall from the common 10% to 5%.

Is CRESP a licence to practise in Lagos?

No. CRESP, the Certified Real Estate Sales Professional programme, is a sales skills certification, not a government licence. It does not replace registration with LASRERA and it does not make you legally registered to practise in Lagos. CRESP teaches you how to find clients, handle objections and close. Registering with LASRERA is what makes you legal.

You need both, for different reasons. Registration answers "Is this agent allowed to practise?" Skills answer "Can this agent actually close?" To understand which certificates matter for selling property, read do you need a certificate to sell real estate in Nigeria.

Eze Maximus, founder of Win Realty Limited: "Register first, then sell. In Lagos, that order is no longer optional."

LASRERA registration makes you legal in Lagos, but it will not book a single inspection for you; CRESP, the Certified Real Estate Sales Professional programme, gives you the selling skills that registration does not.