A slap in the face
There's this man next to our compound, Oga Philip as we fondly call him. He's elderly in his 70s, he deals in motor parts sales and according to him, that's been what's he doing right from his young age. He occupied two shops in the compound I used to think he owned because I usually saw him bringing carpenters and bricklayers to do maintenance in the compound, but not until three months ago when I heard loud shouts of quarrel from the compound and when I got there, I met Oga Philip agitating at the top of his voice, and few persons, our neighbours were gathered around him and trying to calm him down.
Immediately he saw me step to the scene, he turned in my direction, "Kingsley come and see! Some people are not grateful at all in this life. Can you imagine the landlord increasing my shop rent to 250 thousand Naira per year and I'm occupying two shops, that's 500 thousand Naira a year. This is the house I've been maintaining with my money. Can you imagine that?" His voice was so loud and not only that, spit from his mouth showered on my face.
I was shocked to hear that he's not the landlord or at least the caretaker which was what I had believed all along.
"Oga, I thought you own this building oooh!" I exclaimed covering my mouth in shock.
"Don't mind him!" He screamed angrily. He tried to leave the spot, just took a small walk like he was going to sit down but no, he couldn't, he began to lament again.
"This is a compound I've been with through thick and thin. I make use of my money to do maintenance because I took it as my own house and the foolish landlord never considered that. Doesn't he know that I have two mansions and if not for lack of planning, he thought I would be here paying rent?"
Oga Philip is among those that fortune smiled on during the early days of his life because according to him, he built his houses when little money as low as 20 thousand could afford plenty of plots of land. Yes, he always likes to share all his early life stories whenever we are opportune to talk.
That day ended after we pleaded for him to calm down and get to the landlord directly because the information about the increment in the shop rent came through a lawyer.
After two to three weeks, I was opportune to ask him if he had contacted the landlord to know his fate.
"My brother, there's no two ways about it. Once my rent expires, I'm going to vacate this place." His voice sounded piteous yet with confidence.
"Leave?"
"Where are you going to stay?"
"This is where they've known your business and I don't buy the idea of you vacating and besides, shops are really expensive these days. Try and talk to him to reduce the cost"
"Me? Beg him? No way!" He beat his chest so loud that I could hear.
"That man is so inconsiderate! That's someone I took as a family because we've known for a long time and all that while we had no issues. He never asked to pay me for any of the maintenance I have done for the compound because I believed that since I'm the oldest in the compound and considering how close we've been, I should be able to take care of his property.'
"He went to bring a lawyer to increase my rent and didn't bother to call me first. I'm vacating and if it means me stopping my business, I don't mind. I'm old enough to be enjoying the fruit of my labour. My last two children are studying law at the university and others are well-to-do. So I don't have any cause for alarm. Abeg, Kingsley, don't bother yourself on this issue" He walked away as he dropped the last sentence and I could feel his hidden pain.
We still have 7 months to go until his rent expires and I hope they'll be able to resolve their differences before then.
Oga Philip should just calm down, is not the landlords fault, price of items are increasing everyday and the landlord also need to met his own personal expenses, I think oga Philip should just beg the landlord and maybe he might reconsider
That's exactly what I suggested.
Although the landlord didn't do well by increasing th rent without letting him know based on their closeness and how he's been taking care of the compound, they still need to talk out the little differences.
I don't think calling the landlord will change anything but he can try, although the landlord didn't do right by him.
He should still try. Let the landlord be bold enough to tell him what's up.
I hope hope things get resolved before next year because it's not going to be easy for the man.
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It is difficult for someone to feel betrayed by someone they have considered part of their family for so long. Sometimes it is painful to see things change suddenly and in such a drastic way. I think that many things can be solved through dialogue and negotiations, especially when there is enough time to try.
It's very painful bro.
Just like I suggested, dialogue will go a long way to sort out things. Maybe not putting things in order 100% but it's definitely going to bring a better understanding.
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It is always good to ask. The worst that can happen is the answer is still no and high rent still stays.
Maybe he should make up a bill to the landlord with a list of all the updates and repairs and the costs, so the landlord can take a better understanding that he has really already paid the extras.
I have heard it happen before, a renter improves a property that makes it worth much more, then the landlord changes the rents to match how lovely the property is. It is not right, but it does happen.
I saw this post through the HiveDiscoMod curation. :)
Yeah, I support this also.
The rent is definitely going to stay and the only way Oga Philip would adopt to lessen the burden is to appeal for the money he used for the repairs, since the landlord is not putting that into consideration.
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True true dat landlord no try at all, even me I go vex
Well it's a lesson to never put your Hooe totally in any man
Yes. The man learned lesson in a hard way.
I hope the issue get resolved between them.
Thank you!
Wow. The landlord didn't do the right thing. He should have called him to inform him of the new development before going to his lawyer. Well, I hope the man could consider and talk to the landlord if something can be done but I doubt it.
That's exactly what I'm hoping for too.
A dialogue that will result to good understanding and peace.
Thank you!
You are welcome.
It’s even hard to really believe that there are even close in the first place.
They're close, very close.
The Oga Philip took the maintenance thing personal because of how close they're. And anytime he tells me that he doesn't get paid or refunded on the maintenance stuffs, I find it hard to believe
Of course, that’s why I also find it hard to believe. Maybe there’s something you don’t know.
I still go with the saying that "business is business" regardless if it's family or not. That landlord is trying for him because I'm sure he would pay higher even if he moves out from that place.
I just think Mr Philips is feeling too entitled to something that doesn't belong to him. Other landlords are increasing their rent to meet up with the current economy.
He's feeling too entitled thats why he doesn't want to at least talk to the landlord so they could reason together.
Did Mr Philip not increase the price of his goods just to meet up with the current economy? Did he reduce the price for old customers that has been with him since day one? Let's face reality, the landlord did nothing wrong. #dreemport
If they were as close as Oga Philip said, then the landlord was wrong for not contacting him and informing him rather than using a lawyer. But still, it's his house. Landlord's house, Landlord's rules.
#dreemerforlife