Lagos State Unveils New Tenancy Law to Stop Arbitrary Rent Increases and Agent Fraud

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to introduce a new tenancy law designed to put an end to arbitrary rent increases, illegal agency charges, and exploitative practices that have long plagued tenants across the state.

The Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, made the disclosure at the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, confirming that the proposed legislation is already before the Lagos State House of Assembly and is currently at the committee stage.

What the Proposed Tenancy Law Covers The bill, if passed, is expected to deliver sweeping reforms to Lagos's housing and real estate sector.

At its core, the legislation targets three persistent problems that have made renting in Lagos increasingly difficult for ordinary residents — unchecked rent hikes, exploitative agency fees, and the widespread activities of unregistered estate agents who operate outside any regulatory framework.

According to the commissioner, the proposed law is specifically designed to sanitise a sector that has for years operated with minimal accountability, leaving tenants vulnerable to financial exploitation and fraudulent transactions such as multiple sales of the same property.

Mandatory Registration for Estate Agents One of the most significant provisions in the proposed tenancy law is the requirement that all estate agents operating in Lagos must register with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA).

Once the bill becomes law, operating without that registration will be a punishable offence. This provision directly targets the army of unregistered agents accused of charging excessive fees, defrauding prospective tenants, and conducting property transactions with no legal oversight.

Making registration compulsory creates a clear paper trail and gives tenants recourse when agents act improperly. Weekend and Public Holiday Sittings for Tenancy Disputes Beyond landlord-tenant conflicts over rent, the proposed law also seeks to speed up the resolution of tenancy disputes — a process that currently drags on for months or even years in Lagos courts.

The bill proposes the introduction of weekend and public holiday court sittings specifically for tenancy-related matters, a move that could dramatically reduce the backlog of housing cases and deliver faster justice for both tenants and landlords.

This is a particularly welcome development for lower-income tenants who often cannot afford prolonged legal battles and are forced to absorb unjust treatment simply because the formal legal route is too slow and expensive.

What Tenants Must Know Before Going to Court The bill also introduces a notable procedural requirement for tenants seeking legal action against landlords.

Under the proposed tenancy law, tenants will be required to provide proof of rent payments and up-to-date utility bills before initiating court proceedings.

This clause is intended to ensure that only genuine disputes proceed to litigation, reducing frivolous claims while protecting the rights of tenants who have genuinely been wronged.

A Statewide Law With No Exemptions Commissioner Akinderu-Fatai was clear that once passed, the tenancy law will apply across every part of Lagos State without exception — covering both island and mainland communities, urban and semi-urban areas alike.

This universality is important given how unevenly tenant protections have historically been enforced across different parts of the state.