The Lagos State House of Assembly has appealed to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to enforce the Tenancy Law of 2015 in reaction to the rising issue of illegal and excessive rent increases by landlords across the state.
This resolution was passed during a plenary session on Tuesday, after a motion introduced by Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh, who pinpointed the need to address the escalating trend of arbitrary rent hikes.
Olumoh referenced Section 37 of the Tenancy Law, which prohibits unreasonable rent increases and offers tenants legal avenues to challenge such actions in court. He warned that the unchecked rise in rent prices was contributing to the increasing number of homeless individuals in the state.
Lending his support to the motion, Hon. Desmond Elliot noted that rents in his Surulere I constituency had surged by 100 to 200 percent. While he accepted the impact of infrastructural development, he said that it should not justify incessant rent hikes. Elliot also called for a review of the two-year tenancy agreement term and a re-evaluation of agency and legal fees.
Hon. Aro Moshood expressed concern over landlords’ disregard for tenants’ income levels and criticised evictions conducted without following legal procedures. “Many people earning minimum wage can’t even afford a room,” he said.
Hon. Shabi Adebola urged the government to expand low-cost housing options to mitigate the impact on vulnerable groups.
In his ruling, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa stressed the importance of a wider discussion, which should include the rising cost of building materials. He directed the House Committee on Housing, chaired by Hon. Ege Olusegun, to convene a meeting with relevant stakeholders and agencies to explore sustainable solutions.
The House said it would involve the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in raising public awareness about the Tenancy Law’s provisions.
