Gov. Fashola Bans 2 Year Rent in Lagos, Landlord will be jailed

Any landlord who collects rent in excess of one year from a new tenant is liable of punishment by the Lagos state government.

This action would henceforth be seen as a criminal offence, which will either attract payment of N100,000 or three years imprisonment on any landlord or new tenant and N100,000 or three months imprisonment for any landlord who fails to issue a receipt to a tenant for payment of rent.

According to some of the lawmakers who spoke on the passed bill, the receipt would afford the authorities the opportunity to monitor compliance with the law. They said they  are not unmindful of the fact that some landlords can be dubious and would want to change strategy adding that the law, as has been amended, takes care of those areas.

The Tenancy bill passed by the State House of Assembly was tagged ‘A bill for a law to regulate rights and obligations under tenancy agreement and the relationship between landlord and the tenant including the procedure for the recovery of premises and for other connected purposes in Lagos State’.