DISAMENITY RISKS AND PROPERTY INVESTMENTS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA.

Disamenities such as High Voltage Overhead Transmission Lines (HVOTLs) otherwise refered to as power-lines, have greatly facilitated property value diminution. This study tries to capture the impact of power-lines on residential property values within Lagos metropolis. Questionnaires were distributed to 139 registered Estate Surveying firms and 605 persons residing along and within a 200m perpendicular distance to power-lines in Surulere and Alimosho Local Government Council Areas of Lagos Metropolis. Interviews with the managers and field officers of PHCN sub-stations in the study area were also conducted while data were analysed using analytical statistics. The study revealed that power-lines and its associated risks were found to affect rental values of residential properties within high brow Surulere while no effect was recorded for residential properties in suburban Alimosho. The study ecommends the use of buried armour cables as alternative to power lines and the strict enforcement of the right-of-ways where power-lines exist within the Lagos metropolis and generally across the nation. Keywords: HVOTLs, Risk elements, Residential property, Rental value, Estate Surveyor