ROLE OF PROPERTY MANAGERS IN ENHANCING RENT COLLECTION EFFICIENCY IN AFRICAN URBAN COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES: EVIDENCE FROROLE OF PROPERTY MANAGERS IN ENHANCING RENT COLLECTION EFFICIENCY IN AFRICAN URBAN COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES: EVIDENCE FROM KANO METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1004-4750Keywords:
: Commercial Properties Management in Urban Africa, Rent Collection Efficiency in Nigeria, Property Managers, Digital Payment Systems, Kano MetropolisAbstract
Inefficient rent collection remains a major challenge in African urban commercial property markets, mainly due to weak institutions, poor infrastructure, and limited use of digital tools. Despite its importance, rent collection is often treated as a routine task, and there is still little practical evidence on how management practices affect performance. This study examines how property managers can enhance rent collection efficiency in commercial properties, with findings applicable to urban commercial property markets across Africa. A census-based survey of thirty-nine (39) registered estate firms was executed, resulting in thirty-six (36) valid responses (92%). Structured questionnaires were used to gather data, which was then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Cronbach's Alpha values of 0.97, 0.97, and 0.98 showed that the test was reliable. The most common practices are sending rent bills (mean = 4.06), sending reminders (mean = 4.00), and giving people more than one way to pay (mean = 3.94). Digital tools (mean = 3.17) and enforcement mechanisms (mean = 2.78) are not used as much as they could be. Some of the biggest problems are rising prices, weak lease enforcement, and tenants who are late with their payments. The correlation results show that practices, challenges, and strategies are strongly and significantly related (r = 0.959–0.968, p < 0.01). This shows that managerial practices are closely related to how well rent is collected and are mostly shaped by operational constraints. To improve performance, the study suggests combining digital systems, making enforcement frameworks stronger, and using flexible, tenant-friendly strategies.
References
Abdullahi, H., Sinniah, G. K. A., Siong, H. C., & Azman, N. S. M. (2020). Rapid buildings
growth and environmental impacts in Kano, Nigeria. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 498(1), 012079. https://doi.org/10.1088/17551315/498/1/012079
Abolade, A. O., Omirin, M. M., & Dugeri, T. T. (2013). An evaluation of users’ satisfaction with
property management services in commercial properties in Lagos, Nigeria. ATBU Journal of Environmental Technology, 6(1), 66–76. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336129351
Adeolu, O., & Adeola, L. F. (2025). Readiness of estate management firms for AI-based rent
pricing systems in Southwestern Nigeria. International Journal of African Research and Sustainability Studies, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.70382/caijarss.v8i2.033
Adeyemo, O. I., & Olaitan, O. A. (2024). Effective property management in increasingly
urbanized cities. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(1), 2325–2336. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.801171
Adoga, D. O. (2025). Analysis of the performance of office and shop properties rental values in
Kaduna. Environmental Technology and Science Journal, 16(1), 202–210. https://doi.org/10.4314/etsj.v16i1.20
Affroumou, T. A., & Amedanou, I. (2024). Internal conflicts and the moderating role of property
rights in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for property taxation. Journal of African Economies. https://doi.org/10.1093/jae/ejae007
Audu, A. F., Olaniyi, O. K., & Afolabi, C. O. (2023). Influence of the landlords–tenants
relationship on compliance with commercial property lease arrangement in Abuja, Nigeria. Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 21(3), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.9734/arjass/2023/v21i3470
Brown, J. (2022). Impact of communication in the management of revenue collection in Onitsha
metropolitan area, Anambra State of Nigeria. Texila International Journal of Management, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.21522/TIJMG.2015.08.01.Art007
Chukwunweike, A. B., & Egolum, C. C. (2024). Issues in the practice of land taxation in Delta
State, Nigeria. Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Studies, 7(7). https://doi.org/10.47191/jefms/v7-i7-86
Egunleti, I., Taiwo, M., Adekola, A., & Adewunmi, A. (2024). Exploring the factors inhibiting
residential property market efficiency in Akure, Nigeria. NIU Journal of Humanities, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.58709/niujhu.v9i1.1821
Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Agency theory: An assessment and review. Academy of Management
Review, 14(1), 57–74. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1989.4279003
Enwereji, P. (2025). Strategies for property rates debt management: Practical interventions for
debt recovery. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v9i4.6033
Essien, E., & Jesse, E. E. (2024). Urban informality in Nigeria: A midsized city perspective.
Environment, Development and Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-05647-6
Ezennia, I. S., & Hoskara, S. O. (2021). Assessing the subjective perception of urban households
on the criteria representing sustainable housing affordability. Scientific African, 13, e00847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e00847
Fayomi, I., Adedokun, R. A., Oguntokun, B. F., & Ayodele, O. O. (2023). An evaluation of real
estate managers' ethical decision making in property management practice in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria. In Lead City University Postgraduate Multidisciplinary Conference Proceedings (Vol. 1, pp. 10–25).
Gbadegesin, J. T. (2022). Does the COVID-19 affect tenants' adherence to lease obligations in
rental market? Property managers' perspective. Journal of Facilities Management, 20(1), 65–83. https://doi.org/10.1108/jfm-12-2021-0165
Hamudi, S. (2022). Challenges facing the property tax collection system: A case study of the
City of Harare Municipality. African Multidisciplinary Tax Journal, 2(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.47348/amtj/v2/i1a15
Igoche, F. O., Bala, H. J., Liman, A. M., & Sani, S. G. (2025). An assessment of the effect of
amenities on the performance of commercial property in Bauchi Metropolis. International Journal of Environmental Design and Construction Management, 6(4), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.70382/hijedcm.v06i4.021
Iroham, C., Onyenze, M. I., Adedotun, A. F., & Munyemana, S. (2025). Assessing rental loss in
vacancy of high-rise commercial buildings in Marina, Lagos, Nigeria. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1492(1), 012030. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1492/1/012030
Jacobs, N. S., Cornelius, S., Claassen, C., et al. (2025). Academic knowledge on quality of life in
urban Africa: What do we know? Urban Forum, 36, 115–135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-024-09508-3
Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs
and ownership structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3(4), 305–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(76)90026-X
Keke, O. V., Sado, R. O., Ndeche, C. B., & Adikpe, S. L. (2025). Examination of the factors
influencing variation in rental value reviews for commercial properties in Awka, Anambra State. European Journal of Business and Innovation Research, 13(5), 111–125. https://doi.org/10.37745/ejbir.2013/vol13n5111
Mogaji, E., & Nguyen, N. P. (2024). Evaluating the emergence of contactless digital payment
technology for transportation. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 205, 123378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123378
Mohammed, M. U., Badamasi, M. M., Usman, F., Zango, Z. U., Dennis, J. O., Aljameel, A. I., &
Hussein, T. M. (2022). Towards urban sustainability: Developing noise prediction model in an informal setting. Applied Sciences, 12, 9071. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12189071
Muhammad, S., & Marzuki, A. (2024). Solid waste management application and its dilemma in
Kano Metropolis-Nigeria. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 13(5), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20241305.11
Nnamani, O. C., Ifeanacho, K. P., Onyekwelu, E. I., & Ogbuefi, P. C. (2023). Barriers to
effective property tax reform in Nigeria: Implementation of the land use charge in Enugu State. Land Use Policy, 132, 106544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106544
Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Nyanbini, N. N., Okrah, M., & Amponsah, O. (2025). Advance rent payment and its influence
on access to housing by the urban poor. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 40(3), 1151–1171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-025-10199-w
Nwaogu, S. C. (2021). Real estate market performance in Nigeria: Longitudinal evidence from
residential and commercial property sectors in Port Harcourt. Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Studies, 4(7). https://doi.org/10.47191/jefms/v4-i7-20
Odebode, A. A., Aro, S. O., & Agboola, A. O. (2022). An examination of the influence of urban
violence on rental value of residential property in Kaduna metropolis. International Journal of Housing Markets and Analysis, 16(6), 1130–1144. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhma-04-2022-0057
Odebode, A. A., Ogunbayo, O. T., & Obayomi, A. B. (2024). Adoption and willingness to use
property management software among real estate tech startups in Lagos State, Nigeria. Journal of European Real Estate Research, 18(1), 68–83. https://doi.org/10.1108/jerer0120240003
Ogunba, O. A., Dabara, D. I., & Gbadegesin, J. T. (2021). Sustainable real estate management
practice: Exploring the priority of operational stage for actualizing sustainable built environment goal in subSaharan Africa. International Journal of Construction Management, 21(2), 102–117. https://doi.org/10.1080/15623599.2021.2006570
Oyalowo, B. A., Shittu, D., & Abdul, E. (2021). Property taxation imperatives for Africa: A
study of four cities. Journal of African Real Estate Research, 6(1), 97–111. https://doi.org/10.15641/jarer.v6i1.951
Said, S. A., & Lucian, C. (2025). Opening up efficiency: A deep dive into property management
in Zanzibar’s commercial hubs. Baltic Journal of Real Estate Economics and Construction Management, 13(1), 80–90. https://doi.org/10.2478/bjreecm20250007
Saidu, A. M., Salihu, N., Henry, O., & Aminu, D. Y. (2022). Performance of residential property
investment returns in an emerging metropolitan area: The awareness, use and gender inequality. Journal of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 8(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.17352/2455-488x.000047
Vafeas, M., & Hughes, T. (2020). Resource integration: Adopting a paradox perspective to
inform the management of tensions in customer resource allocation. Industrial Marketing Management, 91, 596-609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2020.03.014
Von Bertalanffy, L. (1968). General system theory: Foundations, development, applications.
George Braziller.
Wilson, G. A., Millard, G., & Hills, C. (2023). An international examination of market
orientation and performance in residential property management. Property Management, 41(5), 618–628. https://doi.org/10.1108/PM1020220082
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Kabiru Abdullahi, Bala Jibrin, Ahmed Yarima
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
