Implementing the Lagos tenancy law

Residents in the state urge the governor to establish an agency that will be used to enforce compliance to the new law

BY VALERIE ANOFOCHI

Some Lagos residents have advised Governor Babatunde Fashola not to enforce the new tenancy law in the state until a body was set up to monitor compliance by landlords. 

A bill regulating the rights and obligations of tenants was passed by the State House of Assembly on May 25, and has been forwarded to Governor Fashola for assent.

The law, when assented to by the governor, will  forbid a landlord from  collecting more than a year rent as advance payment on new contracts.

The residents said that the previous law, enacted during the administration of Governor Buba Marwa, failed because there was no agency to monitor activities of landlords. They agreed that the new law, if properly implemented, would be one of the best dividends of democracy to tenants in Lagos State.

Chima Ogbuehi, a Property Consultant and Managing Partner of F & L Integrated Services Ltd., said the effectiveness of the law depended on its enforcement and monitoring. He said that government should carry out enlightenment campaigns before enforcing the law.

He, however, observed that the implementation of the law might run into hitches as the state was trying to control what it did not have. According to him, 90 per cent of the housing stock in Lagos is owned by the private sector. “It will be difficult for government to compel landlords, unless government increases the number of its houses in the state,” he said.

Titi Bamgbala, a tenant at Block 87 in Iponri Estate in Surulere, said it was not enough for the government to pass a law, but wide-spread awareness campaign must follow it. “Not many people are aware that there is a pending tenancy law, even among the educated, so for this new law to be fully effective, awareness must be created,” he said.  

Kazeem Afolabi, a landlord on Sabiu Ajose Street in Surulere, said that there was no way anyone could dictate to him how he would run his property. “I built this house myself, and government cannot wake up one morning and say this is how I will use my property; if any tenant doesn’t like it he should look elsewhere,” he said.

“Although from time, I don’t collect more than one year rent from my tenants, but I am very sure most landlords will not abide by this new law when assented to.”

Ayo Keshinro, a landlord on 24 Road in Festac Town, said he had not heard of the new law, but he would not change the way he was minding his property. “I have been living and feeding my family with the income I generate from my property for years and no law will change my mode of operations,” he said.

Ifeanyi  Odogwu, a landlord on 6th Avenue in Festac Town, said that the law was a welcome development for all  residents in Lagos and he would abide by it. “I was formally a tenant and I understand the plight of accommodation seekers,” he said. “Before now, I only collect a year rent from my tenants and I hope other landlords will oblige.”

Lati Zulu, a tenant in Surulere, queried what would happen if a landlord refused to abide by the law. “We all know that many landlords will not abide by this law, so who do we report to, to get justice, because we can’t allow them to continue to break the law,” he said.