This study aims at assessing the causative factors responsible for rent default among residential property tenants in Osogbo, Osun state Nigeria with a view to providing information that will enhance property management practice in the real estate sector. The population for the study comprised of practicing estate surveyors and valuers and private residential tenants in the study area. Questionnaire survey was conducted to solicit for information from the respondents. A total of 115 questionnaire in all were administered (100 questionnaires were administered on household heads who are residential tenants and 15 questionnaires were administered on branch managers of respective estate surveying firms in the study area). A random sampling technique was used in the selection of the tenant respondents while a total enumeration survey of the estate surveying firms was carried out. From the tenant respondents, 84 questionnaires were filled and returned for analysis representing 84% response rate. While 10 questionnaires were filled and returned from estate surveying firms representing 66.7% response rate. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analyzing the data obtained. Findings from the study showed that the most critical factor influencing rent default in the study area is unemployment/retrenchment (R.I.I., 0.854), this might not be unconnected to the recent economic recession being experienced in Nigeria. Similarly, the least factor influencing rent default in the study area is the unilateral increase of rent by property owners (R.I.I., 0.504). The study concluded that pertinent issues identified in the study area such as careful selection of tenants, periodic inspection of properties with a view to carrying out appropriate maintenance on the property among others could reduce the menace of rent default in the study area.
Keywords: Default, Estate surveyor, Housing, Manager, Rent.