Lagos, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government don plan serious change for the 2015 Tenancy Law, and dem claim say e go help regulate how landlords dey chop money and increase rent anyhow. But plenty industry experts talk say, make the government focus on building affordable houses instead, so pipo fit get better place to stay without wahala.
As we dey talk, serious kain fight don dey happen for major cities across Nigeria, as landlords and tenants dey face each other like say dem don enter batty for Nigerian Idol. Pipo for cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu, and Abuja dey face illegal eviction, rent wey dey increase like say e wan fly, and terms wey no too sweet. Meanwhile, landlords dey complain about lost income and tenants wey dey run away like say dem dey play hide and seek.
Over the years, na so state governments dey ignore these wahala, leaving both landlords and tenants for their own. In Lagos, the level of chaos don turn up, with housing deficit wey dey estimated over five million units. E mean say demand don far outstrip supply, and landlords dey pray for tenants wey no go disturb their peace.
Unfortunately, na norm for landlords to just wake up and decide say rent don increase without enough notice. This one dey force tenants to move carry their load or face eviction even when no formal agreement dey between dem. E still dey baffle me say law dey talk say make at least six months notice dey given before any rent increase, but execution dey like bottle of soft drink for dry season – no be so common.
For Lagos, the Tenancy Law suppose regulate rent to not go beyond one year payment upfront for properties wey dey under N3 million. But landlords go just act like say dem no hear, dey charge pipo two years upfront because, why not? E sweet dem brain. Wahala no dey finish for tenants too as plenty landlords dey evict without court order, showing tenants the kind pepper they never ask for.
And the truth wey pipo no wan talk be say wahala dey both sides. Landlords dey complain about tenants wey dey damage property or no dey pay rent. Some dey complain say they no fit do legal eviction because e dey time-consuming. Who go blame dem? The law fit benefit the tenants more, and landlords dey feel unaffectionate. Na so e be for Nigeria, no be wetin we go fit change overnight.
Recently, Lagos state government don waka come out with plans to follow some cool ideas like monthly and quarterly rent payments. Barakat Bakare, Special Adviser on Housing, don put plenty landlords for notice say una no go fit dey chop pipo anyhow again. E don talk say dem go review the Tenancy Law to fix all the loopholes when dey make things go bad.
Some landlords like John Adeshina don complain say dem need quick court system – as e no dey easy to handle real estate issue when e don jam, just like leaky tap for house. Tenants too like Kunle Adeosun dey call for strong enforcement of the new law to make sure landlords no gree dey echo ransom rent without warning.
As the matter dey hot now, Lagos don dey face more problems like increasing rent prices thanks to landlords wey dey increase rate by over 200% in just one year. You fit imagine say two-bedroom wey normal price na N550,000 now don jump to N1.5 million. Who no go fear? All these adjustments dey push many landlords to consider converting their buildings to short-let apartments, as e dey make more sense for their pockets.
And even for Enugu, the House of Assembly dey look at similar tenancy laws to fix things wey dey bug tenants down dey uselessly. Major players dey raise concerns say if government come dey control landlord-tenant matter too much, e go run contracts wey dey off shoe wahala. They fear say amending the law no go be am favo, especially since we no fit trust the market under pressure.
Real estate professionals dey call for better collaboration with the government to fit balance the law, protect tenants, and still make landlords feel like say dem no dey in war zone every month end. E go seem like say no be small miracle wey dey for ground – but we fit look on the bright side. Some experts don point out say focus on infrastructure, housing supply, and incentives go help both parties win small.
To put am for proper perspective, new tenancy bill don pass second reading for Lagos House of Assembly. Dem dey promise say dis bill go make rent management easier for both landlords and tenants, ensuring fairness while showing everybody the proper way to take screams and shout.
As the debate and gists dey continue, one thing we wan ensure be say a balanced framework go dey important to protect everybody, make all the drama for Lagos housing market fit settle down small. Maybe, just maybe, e go fit go better for all dem wey dey call Lagos home.
