18/10/2023
On our previous post we highlighted the fact that tenants in Nigeria need to understand thier rights. Our series on tenant rights will pick on each right and elaborate.
1) Your right as a tenant to a habitable premises.
Right to habitable premises:
This means that, as a tenant, the landlord has to ensure that the rented property is fit enough for any purpose for which it’s being rented, either for domestic or corporate reasons.
Therefore, if there are any issues like wear and tear, flooding, or damage to certain utilities, the landlord is expected to fix them, and if they refuse to, you can demand a refund of your rent or end the tenancy. Just imagine renting a new apartment then having to contend with the stench coming from broken toilet pipes evicting water and human waste. Just imagine the kinds of pests and rodents that would welcome your moving into such an apartment. This is where maintenance of property sets in.
