Collect more than 6 months’ rent, go to jail, Fashola tells landlords

Posted by admin Lagos, State News Thursday, August 25th, 2011

Respite has finally come to tenants in Lagos as the state governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has signed into law a bill that will make it unlawful for a landlord or his agent to demand or receive from a sitting tenant rent in excess of six months.

The law, which explicitly harps on the rights and obligations under tenancy agreement and relationship between the landlord and tenant, will go a long way in addressing the problem of housing in the metropolis.

According to the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, a defaulter of the law would be liable to pay a fine of N100,000 with the option of a three-month jail term.

The law also stipulates a six-month quit notice for a tenant who pays the rent yearly, with the clause that a tenant might apply to court for an order to stop unreasonable increase of rent by the landlord.

In a situation where the increase is unreasonable, the law allows the court to order the landlord to reduce the amount.

The law also makes it unlawful for a landlord to eject a tenant from any premises pending the determination of the action by the court.

On offences and penalties, the law says that any person who demolishes, alters or modifies a building in order to eject a tenant without the approval of the court shall be guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of N250,000 or six months imprisonment.

It states further that any landlord who forcibly ejects a tenant, threatens or molests a tenant by action or words will be liable to a fine of N250,000 or six months imprisonment.
Commenting, Fashola said that the law would address the problem of housing as the state continued to explode in population.

-Tribunewp_posts