Lagos to Enforce One-Year Rent Limit, Hamzat Says

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, has announced plans by the state government to enforce the one-year rent payment limit, aimed at stopping landlords from demanding two or three years’ rent in advance from tenants.

Hamzat, who is also the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, said the provision was already contained in the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency law, adding that the government’s next priority was to ensure compliance.

He made the statement on Sunday during a governorship debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium in Lagos.

According to Hamzat, residents should not be required to pay several years’ rent upfront, especially when most workers do not receive their salaries years in advance.

He also said the government would strengthen the regulation of real estate agents by requiring practitioners to register with the state and have their details listed on an official database.

He urged residents to use the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency’s online platform to report violations and help the government monitor activities within the property sector.

On affordable housing, Hamzat said the government planned to complete ongoing housing projects and reduce delays in obtaining property regularisation and title documents.

He explained that the state had completed the automation of land documentation processes, allowing residents to submit applications online.

Hamzat further called for stronger collaboration with private developers to expand housing opportunities beyond affluent neighbourhoods such as Ikoyi and Victoria Island.

He encouraged developers working in high-income areas to also consider investing in less affluent communities to improve access to housing across the state.

He said his proposed administration’s ‘Everyday Dignity’ agenda would focus on ensuring that residents were not subjected to rent payments that undermine their standard of living.

The issue of advance rent payments remains a major concern in Lagos, where tenants continue to face demands for multiple years’ rent despite existing legal restrictions.

Under Section 4 of the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011, landlords and their agents are prohibited from demanding more than one year’s rent in advance from new tenants.

The law also sets limits on advance rent payments for existing tenants, depending on their tenancy arrangements.

The state has also been considering amendments to its tenancy regulations to address concerns surrounding rent increases, agency practices and disputes between landlords and tenants.

However, the proposed 2025 amendments should be distinguished from the existing law, as their enactment and commencement have not been confirmed.