The Lagos State Government has proposed the Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 (Draft), which seeks to criminalise harassment and illegal evictions, offering stronger protections for tenants across the state.
Under the draft bill, it becomes an offence for landlords to evict tenants without a valid court order or to use self-help measures such as cutting off utilities or dismantling parts of a property.
Harassment and Illegal Eviction Offences
Section 10 of the bill requires landlords to respect tenants’ quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their premises, prohibiting actions such as removing roofs, cutting off electricity or water, or interfering with a tenant’s use of the property.
Section 43 further specifies that any person who forcibly ejects a tenant, threatens or molests them, or wilfully damages premises without a court order commits an offence. Conviction carries a fine of at least ₦1,000,000, up to six months’ custodial or non-custodial sentence, or both. This provision addresses widespread reports of landlords deploying thugs, breaking into apartments, or locking out tenants during disputes.
Protection Against Unreasonable Rent Increases
The bill also provides mechanisms to challenge excessive rent hikes. Section 33 allows tenants to apply to the court if a rent increase is deemed unreasonable. Courts will consider local rent levels, evidence from both parties, and any special circumstances regarding the property. Landlords are prohibited from evicting tenants while such disputes are ongoing, ensuring protection against abrupt or unjustified rent increases.
Streamlined Dispute Resolution
Sections 20–24 introduce faster legal processes for tenancy matters. Cases can now be filed via originating summons, hearings are to be scheduled within 14 days, and courts may sit on weekends, public holidays, or virtually. Mediation is capped at 30 days, promoting quicker resolutions.
Transparency in Charges and Tenant Rights
Section 12 mandates that landlords provide tenants with a biannual account of service charges and security deposits. Deposits must be refunded unless damage is documented. Section 7 affirms tenants’ rights to privacy, peaceful enjoyment, use of common areas, and compensation for approved improvements.
The Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 aims to protect tenants, discourage illegal practices, and promote fairness in the state’s housing sector while ensuring transparency and accountability in landlord-tenant relations.