The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to enforce the full implementation of the Lagos State Tenancy Law (2015) amid growing concerns over arbitrary rent increases by landlords.
The lawmakers also urged the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, to ramp up public awareness campaigns to educate residents on their rights and responsibilities under the law.
These resolutions followed a motion moved on Tuesday by Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh, who expressed concern over the worsening housing crisis driven by excessive and unregulated rent hikes across the state. He referenced Section 37 of the Tenancy Law, which prohibits unreasonable rent increases and offers tenants legal protection against exploitation.
Olumoh warned that unchecked rent surges are contributing to the rise in homelessness and housing insecurity in Lagos.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Desmond Elliot (Surulere 1) disclosed that rent in parts of his constituency had jumped by up to 200 percent, partly due to recent infrastructural developments. He, however, insisted that improvements in infrastructure should not justify arbitrary rent increments. Elliot also called for a review of the provision requiring tenants to pay two years’ rent in advance, along with commissions and legal fees.
Hon. Aro Moshood criticized the practice of landlords imposing new rent figures without due notice or regard for tenants’ income levels, in clear violation of the law. He also decried the growing trend of illegal evictions carried out without court orders.
“Many people earning minimum wage can no longer afford a single room in Lagos,” Moshood noted.
Echoing these concerns, Hon. Shabi Adebola urged the state government to scale up the development of affordable housing, particularly for low-income earners.
In his ruling, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa emphasized the gravity of the situation, pointing out that the challenge extends beyond rent control to the soaring costs of building materials. He recommended engagement with real estate stakeholders to explore viable and lasting solutions.
Obasa then directed the Acting Clerk, Abubakar Ottun, to transmit the Assembly’s resolution to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for further action.
