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23/05/2025

BREAKING NEWS!
The Lagos State Tenancy Law has been updated to better protect tenants and regulate landlord practices. Here are the key provisions:

1. Advance Rent Restrictions

Landlords are prohibited from demanding more than three (3) months' rent in advance from sitting tenants. Similarly, tenants are not allowed to pay more than three months' rent upfront. Violations can result in fines up to ₦100,000 or imprisonment for up to three months.

2. Mandatory Rent Receipts

Landlords must issue rent payment receipts to tenants, detailing the payment date, names of both parties, property location, amount paid, and the rental period covered. Failure to provide a receipt can lead to a ₦10,000 fine.

3. Tenancy Agreement Fee Cap

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed that tenancy agreement fees should not exceed 10% of the annual rent. Landlords and agents charging above this limit are in violation of the law.

4. Notice Periods for Termination

In the absence of a written agreement, the law stipulates the following notice periods:

One week's notice for a weekly tenant

One month's notice for a monthly tenant

Three months' notice for a quarterly or half-yearly tenant

Six months' notice for a yearly tenant

If a monthly tenant is in arrears for three months, the landlord may seek possession through the courts.

5. Tenant Rights

Tenants are entitled to:

Reasonable privacy

Freedom from unreasonable disturbance

Exclusive possession of the premises

Use of common areas for lawful purposes

Additionally, tenants who make improvements with the landlord's written consent may claim compensation if the tenancy is terminated.

6. Dispute Resolution

Tenancy disputes can be addressed in either the High Court or Magistrates’ Court within the relevant jurisdiction.

7. Prohibition of Unlawful Evictions

Landlords must not evict tenants without following due legal process. Self-help evictions are prohibited and can result in legal penalties.

For further details or to report violations, tenants can contact the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA). The Lagos State Government's position is that the total charge for legal and agreement fees combined should not exceed 10% of the annual rent.

Example:

If the annual rent is ₦1,000,000:

Total charge for both legal and agreement fees together should be ₦100,000 or less.

This means legal = 5% and agreement = 5%, or any other breakdown, as long as the total does not exceed 10%.

Anything above this is considered illegal under the Lagos Tenancy Law.

If you need a formal reference or want to lodge a complaint, you can contact LASRERA (Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority).

21/05/2025

As a tenant if you desire to carryout any major structural repairs in a apartment you occupy as a tenant and you desire a reimbursement from your landlord through deduction from subsequent rent you must write to get his consent and agreement to pay back before you embark on such project.
If not you are not entitled to any reimbursement under the law

21/05/2025

In tenancy relationship a tenant can sublet his right in a property without seeking the consent of his landlord if there is no tenancy agreement executed at the commencement of the tenancy and the sublessee will have the same protection under the law as the original tenant

19/05/2025

Dear Realtors,
I have been facing this Challenge with the courts.
It is in the interest of Landlords that I present Landlords cases to the Courts without necessarily engaging the service of a Lawyer.
Some Magistrate in some of my Tenancy matter have tried to deny me right of audience claiming I am not a lawyer.
But Section 16 of Rent control and recovery of premises law, allow a party in Tenancy matter allow a party to appoint a representative to represent him or her, and supreme Court in one of his cases
"A litigant, whether, a legal practitioner or a lay may, who conducts his case in person has the right like any legal practitioner who appear and act for a client to cite authorities to advance his case." Per Bello C. J. N, in Atake vs. Afejuku (1994) 9 NWLR pt. 368,379 at 402

18/02/2025

Please take note that any land transactions that is up to three (3) years and above must be reduced to writing in the form of tenancy agreement, lease agreement, license agreement, agreement to sell, sales agreement, deed of assignment and so on according to the transaction as interpreted by a lawyer. Please don't take this for granted

13/02/2025

Meanwhile I want to narrate the story between myself and one of my former Principal, it's former because of my epileptic operation in Abuja due to family land matter.
It so happened that one of our tenants at that time locked up one of the flats within the estate of my principal and left, meanwhile, the relationship between myself and the landlord was such that I shall pay all the total rent in advance and in bulk sum, one of the tenant decided to lock up the apartment and moved to his own Property, after much persuasion the tenant in question refused to voluntarily open the apartment, i then decided to take legal action, which costed me so much money as I have to move a lawyer from Lokoja to apply for an order of the Court to serve statutory notices as required by law, through substituted means of service, which was granted, after service of the notices I filed a case for recovery of premises and got an order of the Court to recover possession of the apartment and all the money he owed till possession is recovered from him, and I left Abuja, infact I did the case while i was already out of Abuja but i used to travel the way from Isanlu sometimes Lokoja to Abuja for the case on adjourned date. Having got judgement I kept up with my arrangement with my principal by paying the total rent sum to him and recovery of same plus my desired profit from tenants, but the his particular lock down apartment was unpaid to me after three years the money had accumulated to 1.5 million Naira, so when I was able to get the judgement enforced to he man's (tenant's) was seized and sold at auction price and I recovered the rent.
Meanwhile, while the recovery process was on the the man claimed to have paid the rent to the landlord over a year ago and has to him to take over the apartment.
But the following factors worked against the man.
1. The order of the court must be obeyed
2. The court ordered the tenant to pay to me not the landlord,
3. There is no writing notice to show the date and time the property was handed over by the tenant
4. He was presumed to be aware of the case against him in the court but refused to go to the court to find out the position at any point in time
5. The only option available at that point was an appeal of which a notice of appeal or an order for stay of enforcement from the appellate court can halt the enforcement

10/02/2025

From the above scenario, the option available to the landlord is to take inventory of the damage done to his property put monetary value on it, then report a case of mischief at the police station against my friend and also file a civil case requesting an order for my friend to fix all the damages.
But in the absence of enough evidence can he succeed, that is why you need the service of a professional in the he Realtor business at every step you take in your real estate business. My charges are moderate and negotiable

10/02/2025

Meanwhile, another issue came up about a tenant who resides in am apartment for upto Eleven years at the time he vacated the house he has vandalize a lot of things in the house, when the matter eas become chaotic my friend who happen to be the vacating tenant invited me to mediate for him.
When I inspected the property the level of dilapidation was high but in the relationship these are my observation:
1. Was there a joint inspection of the property and production of a schedule of condition report at the time he took possession
Answer: nill

Without this the landlord cannot show the standard and quality of fitting and fixtures property was fixed with and even the condition the property was

Secondly, was the tenancy lease with periodic renewal or term certain tenancy if so any tenancy agreement to show the terms and conditions
Answer: not sure, with this information it can easily be ascertain who is responsible for various maintenance

Thirdly, was there any periodic inspection carried out by the landlord to ascertain the condition of the property with reports
Answer: Nill
This would have brought the condition of the property to the attention of the property at various intervals

10/02/2025

Him: Hello good evening

Me: good evening Sir,
Him: Please I need you to guide me on an issue,

Me:I am at your service Sir

Him: I have a friend who occupied 1 room self contained at Lokoja and he pays 150k per year and now the rent has only 1 month to expire and the landlord has increased the rent to 250k, is it proper, is it legal, is this how it should be done, please guide my on what my friend can do

Me: Sir, if it's not that you are my Principal in some other property I would have requested for a fee of at least 30k, but for our relationship, i wouldn't do that.
Meanwhile, what is the nature of his tenancy. Is it a lease with a periodic tenancy or a term certain tenancy.
If he is on a lease and pays rent yearly then the landlord has no power to unilaterally review the rent upward, until the lease expires then he can do that, but I it is a term certain tenancy Tenancy and the tenancy term created had expired the the landlord has the liberty of reviewing his rent as he pleases unilaterally and he can decide to tell you at anytime, it could be before expiration or after expiration.

Him: what is the difference between the two

Me: at this point Sir you need to tell him to call me so he can pay a fee then I will enlightenment him and he will no what to do about it.
So he cuts the call and am still waiting for his call

10/02/2025

As Reliable, lucrative and secured as Real Estate investment is it is also very complex, so please do not hesitate to private chat me or call me when any issue comes up.
I received a call from a friend whom I added to this group but exited and the following issue that has been discussed was really him him hard through a friend of his, read below

28/03/2023

In kogi state Nigeria Landlords are in tight corner, the Nigeria constitution allows the landlord to conduct his case without the service of a lawyer, section 16 of the Rent and recovery of premises law allows a landlord to choose a representative in his case against a tenant, and the supreme court ruled as follows; in Atake vs Afejuku, (1994) 9 NWLR Pt. 368, 379 at 402.
"A litigant whether a legal practioner or a layman who conduct his case in person has the right like any legal practioner who act and appear for a client to cite authorities to advance his case."
This empowers any landlord to apply for court orders, but in Lokoja can we say it is allowed?

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