The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans for a new tenancy bill aimed at regulating rent increases, curbing illegal charges, and sanitising estate agency practices across the state’s real estate sector.
The proposed legislation, currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly, is designed to address growing complaints over arbitrary rent hikes, excessive agency fees, and fraudulent activities involving unregistered property agents.
Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, disclosed this during the 2026 ministerial press briefing held on Tuesday in Alausa, Ikeja, noting that the bill is already at the committee stage.
A key provision of the proposed law is the mandatory registration of all estate agents operating in Lagos with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, failure of which would attract penalties once the law is enacted.
According to the commissioner, the move is intended to eliminate the activities of unregulated agents who exploit tenants through inflated charges, fraudulent property transactions, and multiple sales of the same property.
The bill also proposed reforms to fast-track the resolution of tenancy disputes, including the introduction of weekend and public holiday sittings for housing-related cases in court.
Akinderu-Fatai added that the law, when passed, would apply uniformly across all parts of Lagos State without exemption, ensuring consistency in housing regulation and enforcement.
He further explained that tenants seeking legal redress would be required to present proof of rent payments and updated utility bills before initiating court proceedings, a measure aimed at improving transparency in tenancy disputes.
The commissioner disclosed that the state government had intensified enforcement against fraudulent operators through LASRERA, recovering over N270 million from erring estate agents between 2025 and 2026.
He also reiterated the government’s stance that estate agency fees in Lagos should not exceed 10 per cent of annual rent, describing the policy as part of efforts to protect residents from exploitation.
Akinderu-Fatai said the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remained committed to making housing transactions more transparent, affordable, and investor-friendly while restoring confidence in the real estate sector.
The proposed tenancy law is expected to generate significant debate among stakeholders as Lagos continues its push to reform one of Nigeria’s most active property markets.
