Fayod Group, a property management company providing residency services in parts of Lagos State, has failed to refund N4.1 million to Tayo Hammed who booked a three-month residency for his client in the company’s three-bedroom facility on 8 Lawrence Road, Ikoyi, on May 14.
KeepLoss understands that Hammed, the owner of Reforma Integrated Services dealing in property and booking services, secured the shortlet for his client and paid N19.8 million.
The client moved into the allocated Block B, Flat 4B and their stay in the building was without any major issue until about one month to the end of the tenancy when there was a power cut.
“Only my client’s apartment was affected by the electricity cut among the apartments in the compound and it continued for good three days without any alternative,” Hammed told FIJ on Wednesday.
“This was even after my client had shown an understanding with the company when their DSTV was inactive and kitchen tap failed to work. The problem reached its peak with the power supply and my client was left stranded, making the apartment uninhabitable and forcing them to vacate the property on July 13.”
At that point, the refundable unused rent was N6.6 million and Hammed had to request that the company send it back to his company’s Access Bank account. But his request was met with delay.
He had another client and he decided to lodge them in the facility for 10 days at the cost of N2.5 million.
Both parties reached an understanding to deduct the second client’s charges from the unprocessed N6.6 million refund, bringing the refundable amount down to N4.1 million.
WhatsApp chats show that the management of the company, starting from apartment manager Toyin, company manager Bode Balogun and managing director Ayodeji Fashanu, made repeated failed promises to refund the money.
“Kindly give us another chance to prove that we are really sorry,” Toyin said in one chat. In another, she told Hammed, “Your message will be passed to the management for a refund as soon as possible.”
None of the words translated to tangible action by the company. Hammed said this had impacted his relationship with his client, adding that “the financial loss is substantial”.
‘HE WILL GET HALF THIS WEEK’
Forty-four days after the client’s exit, Fayod Group had continued to hold on to the unused rent. But when FIJ called on Wednesday, Balogun said Hammed would receive “at least half of the money” within the week.
“The power cut was an internal problem… That we have not refunded the money is not deliberate. Of course, we have made unfulfilled promises, but we are having some financial issues. He is one of our loyal and regular agents,” Balogun, the company manager, said on the phone.
“[Hammed] has made several calls which I could not answer because I did not know what to tell him again. I don’t want to make a specific promise, but we are working to refund the money, if not all but at least half of it, before the coming weekend.”
Source: FIJ