Lagos State’s proposed Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill (2025/2026) has drawn mixed reactions from lawyers, rights activists, landlords, and tenants, with some hailing it as a necessary reform and others raising concerns over enforcement, housing affordability, and judicial capacity.
Addressing reporters in Lagos, legal experts emphasized that proper monitoring and oversight will be essential to ensure the law protects both landlords and tenants without being applied oppressively. They said effective enforcement mechanisms would be critical to prevent abuse and ensure the legislation fulfills its intended purpose.
The Attorney General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro, told reporters earlier that the ministry had presented the bill to the State House of Assembly to streamline landlord-tenant litigation, aiming to reduce case durations to between three and six months.
The bill sets limits on rent collection, prohibiting landlords from demanding more than one year’s rent upfront from new tenants and capping monthly tenants’ advance payment at three months. It mandates issuance of rent receipts, caps agent fees at five to ten percent, and introduces seven-day eviction notices for tenants in default.
Rights activist Spurgeon Ataene described the reform as commendable but cautioned that housing affordability must be addressed for the law to be effective. He noted that some flats on Lagos Island and Mainland can cost as much as N5 million for a three-bedroom unit, leaving tenants with little for other essentials. He also warned that landlords should not use the seven-day notice as a pretext for forceful evictions.
Legal practitioner Bayo Akinlade said that because recovery of premises still relies on courts, disputes may continue to require judicial interpretation and enforcement. He suggested using available data on housing and tenancy disputes to guide the law’s implementation.
Another lawyer, Yemi Omodele, noted that Lagos has historically pioneered progressive policies, but implementation remains a challenge. He urged stakeholders, including lawyers handling landlord and tenant cases, to be involved in the lawmaking process to ensure a comprehensive and practical legal framework. Omodele highlighted the strain on magistrates’ courts, where 30–40 landlord-tenancy cases can be listed in a single day, raising questions about judicial capacity to handle disputes even under the new law.
Landlord Saheed Olafimihan said delays in litigation have affected rental income but expressed cautious optimism about the reform. “If the proposed law is effectively implemented, it can create a win-win situation for both landlords and tenants,” he said.
Tenant Grace Chibueze expressed concern that the proposed three-month case timeline may limit tenants’ ability to adequately present their defense. She called for stronger mediation and legal support structures, noting that agencies such as the Citizen Mediation Centre must be accessible and effective, especially for indigent tenants.
Stakeholders broadly agreed that while the new tenancy bill seeks to protect property rights and improve the rental market, its effectiveness will hinge on housing affordability, judicial capacity, and proactive engagement with landlords, tenants, and legal practitioners.
The bill’s passage is being closely watched as a potential model for tenancy reform in Nigeria, aiming to balance economic interests, social equity, and efficient dispute resolution within Lagos’ rapidly evolving property sector.