Lagos State is planning to step in and control the high cost of renting a house in the state. The move comes after the Enugu State government proposed a law to limit excessive rent charges.
Jubril A. Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Lagos State Governor, shared this update on X. He posted a copy of the bill from Enugu State and hinted that Lagos would follow a similar path.
He wrote, “Lagos … Coming Soon. A very strong issue but must be well discussed and implemented, after deliberation by the Lagos House of Assembly.”
The Enugu State House of Assembly is currently reviewing a bill to regulate agency and legal fees for tenancy agreements. The bill, titled “A Bill for a Law to Amend the Landlord and Tenant Law, CAP. 101, Laws of Enugu State, 2024,” was sponsored by Hon. Okey Mbah and had its first reading on Tuesday.
The bill aims to:
- Limit agency and legal fees to 10% of the rent
- Abolish caution fees (charges that landlords rarely refund)
- Protect tenants from forced or unfair evictions
According to the bill, agent fees for finding a house must not be more than 10% of the rent. Also, the legal fees for preparing the rental agreement must not exceed 10% of the rent.
Anyone who breaks this law may face a fine of N500,000, six months in prison, or both.
Many tenants in Lagos face high rent costs and additional fees that make renting difficult. With Lagos State showing interest in Enugu’s approach, tenants may soon get relief from high charges.
While no law has been passed yet, discussions will take place in the Lagos House of Assembly before any final decision is made. If approved, Lagos could see a major change in how rent and housing fees are structured.
This move could help create affordable housing and protect tenants from exploitation. Many people are watching closely to see how Lagos will proceed.
Would you support a rent regulation law in Lagos? Share your thoughts in the comments!
