The Lagos State House of Assembly has introduced a new tenancy bill aimed at modernising landlord–tenant relations, capping advance rent payments, and streamlining eviction and dispute resolution processes.
The bill — formally titled “A Law to Regulate the Relationship Between Landlords and Tenants Including the Procedure for the Recovery of Premises in Lagos State” — will repeal the current Tenancy Law Cap. T1 Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Under the proposal, landlords or agents may not demand more than three months’ rent in advance from existing monthly tenants or more than one year’s rent from yearly tenants. The same limits apply to payments offered by tenants. Violators — whether payers or receivers — face fines of up to ₦1 million, three months in jail, or both.
The bill also:
Bans landlords from cutting off utilities or disturbing tenants’ peaceful occupation.
Sets default notice periods for ending tenancies, from one week for tenants-at-will to six months for yearly tenants.
Requires property agents to be registered with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority and caps agency fees at 5% of one year’s rent.
Obligates landlords to maintain external/common areas and issue rent receipts, while tenants must keep premises in good repair and seek permission for alterations or subletting.
Court processes will be standardised, mediation encouraged, and virtual hearings permitted to speed up tenancy cases. The bill applies to all residential and commercial premises in Lagos, with some exemptions for institutional, emergency, and medical accommodations.
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