Critical Factors Contribut？ng to Rent Arrears in Residential Properties in Minna, Nigeria

Abstract: Optimum return appears to be a tangible motive of investors of real estate investments. This motive over the years has been bedevilled by rent defaults by renters of properties in the property sector. This situation, to Property Managers and their Principals is worrisome. It is on this basis that this study attempts to assess the factors influencing rent arrears in Minna residential property market. The study employs data on various aggregate factors such as management subsystem, economic factors, tenancy arrangement, dwelling unit features and external household attributes influencing rent payments. Cluster random sampling was used to administer questionnaire to renters of residential properties in Minna while simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to administer questionnaires to property managers. Kendall Coefficient of Concordance and Chi-Square were statistical tools used. The result revealed that W = 0.601 which indicated a statistical evidence of a fair association in the ranking of the factors responsible for rent in arrears, while the average rank correlation of factors between all possible pairs of the towns rs = 0.521 indicating a weak agreement to the identified factors. There was evidence of variation among the factors responsible for rent arrears across the areas and the study also found there is no relationship between income level of renters and type of residential accommodation occupied. The implication of the study is that renters develop practical habit that discipline their finances and prioritize the scale of preference to live below their income level. Keywords: Landlords, property managers, rent arrears, residential properties, tenant