Katon Gyese Landlord:  A Master of Denial (1)

Katon Gyese Landlord:  A Master of Denial (1)

By: Balami Lazarus

I never knew that I would write an article with a title close to one of the works of Sidney Sheldon. “The Master of The Game” (1982) And here you are reading something similar. Jamie Mcgregor was a laborer-tenant to a rich, influential diamond miner who is known for his denial. Mcgregor later became a master of the game in the mining business and denied this case to some property owners.

The landlord-tenant Relationship has been the topic of discussion on the lips of most tenants in their places of residence or work in recent times. This has to do with the unhealthy relationship between landlords and tenants regarding the state and condition of their places of residence, where some landlords are refusing to take up their responsibilities for the maintenance and structural repairs of their properties.

My experience and practical knowledge in the real estate business have exposed me to both landlords and tenants. Equally, as a tenant-landlord who had lived in some parts of the Nigerian estate, I came into close contact with different shades of real property owners, which improved my understanding of some of them.

As a real estate broker and developer, I was able to relate with them one-on-one, which gave me an edge in the course of transactions and the management of their properties.

The character and attitudes of landlords who capitalize on Tenancy agreements that are most often written in their favor, fashioned like that of a master-servant relationship, create doubts in the agreement, stopping tenants from spending their dime on simple repairs or maintenance on the other.

For some, living as tenants is a smooth ride; for others, it is an unfortunate experience and a nightmare considering what they are passing through in the hands of their wbo, who are sadists, ingrates, and masters of denial, shying away from their part of the agreement relating to their properties.

Moreso, with such landlords, you dare not delay, even with good reasons, payment of their rent, whether monthly, quarterly, or yearly, because of their selfish quest to lord arrogantly over their tenants. In fact, I have seen landlords claim the fittings and fixtures of tenants as their own. And sadly, some even greedily add the 5 or 10% commission on the actual rent and take it all with a wolfish smile.

Denial is as old as history. It has been with men to this day. and, of course, a means of defense in litigation, as the case may be. My father, a kind man of blessed memories, once told us his children to always learn not to deny matters that they are sincerely and truthfully involved in, whether in actions or in words.

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I have imbibed this wisdom. However, he (my father) further said that you can only deny if you are misquoted, misjudged, or misinterpreted, but remember to raise a point of correction to straighten the record in line with the issues at hand. But this is not the case with a Katon Gyese property owner as master of blatant denial on matters pertaining to his property carried out by tenants in good faith as an attempt to care for, maintain, and improve the value of the property.

Well, those who knew me at close quarters will definitely tell you that I don’t deny my actions or what I said in words that came directly from my mouth. Consequently, anyone who might have dealt, transacted, or related with me knows that you cannot separate or severe me in any form from this character because that is my nature.

Therefore, my readers at this juncture should know that it is not yet ripe for me to mention names. But rest assured, I will after my findings of the Katon Gyese landlord denial saga, as I am known to do in my writings. I pray that if and only landlords realize the benefits of win-win affairs between them and their tenants in terms of maintaining their properties, they will forever appreciate their tenants.

Balami, a publisher and columnist. 08036779290

Katon Gyese Landlord:  A Master of Denial (1)