Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has said the state government plans to strengthen enforcement of the one-year rent payment rule to stop landlords from demanding two or three years’ rent in advance from tenants.
Sponsored Ads
Hamzat, who is also the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, made this known on Sunday during a governorship debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium in Lagos.
Sponsored Ads
The debate was organised by a coalition comprising The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable and Vanguard.
Hamzat said the provision was contained in the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency law passed in 2025, adding that the government’s next priority was to ensure compliance.
He argued that tenants should not be expected to pay several years’ rent in advance when most workers do not receive their salaries years ahead.
The deputy governor also outlined measures being considered to improve housing affordability and address challenges in the state’s property sector.
He said real estate agents were required to register with the state and have their details included in an official database.
Hamzat urged residents to use the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency’s online platform to report complaints and help the government monitor activities in the property sector.
He explained that feedback from residents would enable the government to identify violations and respond to problems affecting tenants and property owners.
RELATED STORIES
Related Posts
On affordable housing, Hamzat said the government would complete ongoing housing projects and reduce delays in obtaining property regularisation and title documents.
He noted that delays in processing land documents could increase housing costs, adding that the state had automated the process to allow residents to submit applications online.
The APC governorship candidate also called for greater collaboration with private developers to ensure that housing projects were not concentrated in affluent neighbourhoods.
He urged developers handling projects in areas such as Ikoyi and Victoria Island to consider undertaking additional developments in less affluent communities, including Egodo.
Hamzat said the approach would help ensure that housing provision catered for both high-income earners and low-income residents, alongside government-funded housing initiatives.
Referring to his manifesto, he said its Everyday Dignity component was designed to prevent rent payments from placing excessive financial pressure on residents and undermining their dignity.
He added that achieving this would require engagement with landlords while recognising that Lagos operates a capitalist economy.
Advance rent payments have remained a concern for tenants in Lagos, where some landlords reportedly demand multiple years’ rent despite existing legal restrictions.
Section 4 of the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 prohibits landlords and their agents from demanding more than one year’s rent in advance from a new tenant. It also sets limits on advance payments for existing tenants, depending on the type of tenancy.
Hamzat’s comments come amid discussions on reforms to the state’s tenancy framework, including measures to address rent increases, agency practices and disputes between landlords and tenants.
Comments are closed.