Fashola Signs Tenancy Bill Into Law



Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola just yesterday signed the Tenancy Bill which serves to regulate the relationship between tenants and landlords in Lagos. The law is considerably tough on landlords as it now restricts them from collecting rents in excess of that which is due for 1 year in the case of new tenants and 6 months in the case of sitting tenants and allows tenants to sue for unreasonable increase in rent.

Under the section of the law dealing with Advance rent, the bill stated that “It shall be unlawful for a landlord or his agent to demand or receive from a sitting tenant rent in excess of six (6) months (one year in the case of a new tenant) in respect of any premises,”

Likewise, it is also unlawful for a sitting tenant to offer or pay rent in excess of six months, as it is for new tenants to offer or pay rent in excess of one year.

The state attorney general, Ade Ipaye said defaulters “shall be liable to a fine of N100,000 or three months imprisonment.”

The bill stated clearly the length of quit notice applicable to the different classes of tenants and issues a fine of N250,000 or six months imprisonment as penalty for forceful ejection of tenants.

Fashola pleaded with “few privileged landlords to make some sacrifice to help the poor and less privileged members of the society”.

He said “The issues at stake in the new laws are serious moral issues that require voluntary compliance rather than strict enforcement from government. The problem of corruption cannot be fought in the country with this kind of situation that requires a tenant to pay two or years rent in advance. How many employees get two years salaries in advance to make such payments? Does the landlord lose money if he collects his money as at when due?” Mr Fashola asked.

“It is important that the public know that we executive and the legislative too are to be affected by this law because many of us are property owners; I want to believe that this is a bill that demonstrates what all Lagosians want; we are a government of methods, when we see certain problem, we get to the challenge,”

Property owned by educational institutions for staff and students, residential promises provided for emergency shelter, property made available for rehabilitative or therapeutic treatment, and residential premises in a care or hospice, or mental health facility  are exempted from the law.

Governor Fashola said landlords should not panic because the law protects their interest by making it impossible for tenants to shirk their own responsibilities.

The passing of the law has been hailed by many middle and lower class workers in Lagos, who are often forced to bear the burdens of heavy advance payments or face eviction.

1 COMMENT

  1. I commend this action by the government of Lagos State. However, the reverse to this Tenancy Bill is to frantically seek ways to protect Landlords from unofficial and exorbitant costs they incur on title perfection and on obtaining approvals. Our amiable Governor should please, as a matter of urgency, look into curbing the extortion carried out by his workers (civil servants) while doing the work they are paid to do. It is practically impossible in Lagos to perfect property title and obtain building approval without greasing the palms of civil servants and middle men at total sum in excess of the total official fee.

    Please, your excellency, balance this Bill by curbing the excesses of your workers charged with the responsibilities of title perfection and building approvals.

    If I may suggest, please invest in mechanism that will automate this process and therefore reduce person to person contact at obtain these title documents. By so doing, you will be further seen as a worthy mediator in the Loandlord/Tenant relationship.