The House of Representatives has moved to check arbitrary rent hikes across Nigeria, proposing that rent increases should not exceed 20% of the current rate, regardless of improvements or other factors.

This followed a motion by Hon. Bassey Akiba, representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, on the need to regulate rent increases and protect tenants from exploitation.

The House urged the Federal Government to invest in affordable housing and expand access to low-cost homes to ease pressure on the rental market.

In a related development, lawmakers also passed a resolution directing the Inspector General of Police and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure all officers at checkpoints wear full uniforms and proper identification. They noted that operating in plain clothes compromises accountability and breaches standard security practices.

Meanwhile, in Lagos, the State House of Assembly had earlier called for the strict enforcement of the 2015 Tenancy Law to curb excessive rent increases. The lawmakers urged the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to implement the law fully and tasked the Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, with intensifying public awareness on tenants’ rights.

The motion, moved by Sa’ad Olumoh, cited Section 37 of the Tenancy Law, which prohibits unreasonable rent hikes and offers tenants legal protection against exploitation.

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The Cross River State House of Assembly has begun deliberations on new measures to regulate housing rents and curb the excesses of property agents across the state, particularly in Calabar, where residents are grappling with soaring accommodation costs.

The discussion was prompted by a motion of urgent public importance from Davies Etta, member representing Abi Constituency, who decried what he described as unjustifiable and exploitative rent hikes driven by landlords and housing agents.

Etta noted that many agents have become “middlemen of hardship,” advising landlords to impose excessive rents even on dilapidated properties. He cited examples of self-contained apartments on Marian Road now costing as much as ₦1.5 million per year, while one-bedroom flats in Calabar South rent for between ₦800,000 and ₦1 million. In upscale areas such as State Housing and Parliamentary Extension, rents have reportedly surpassed ₦2 million.

He condemned the practice of demanding two years’ rent upfront and issuing sudden eviction notices, calling it “heartless and socially dangerous.” The lawmaker urged the House to pass legislation to regulate rent pricing, protect tenants’ rights, and mandate oversight by the state’s Ministry of Housing. He also advocated for reduced costs of locally produced building materials to make housing more affordable.

Speaker Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem commended the motion, describing it as timely and people-focused. He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to passing laws that ensure fairness between landlords and tenants.

“This Assembly belongs to the people,” Ayambem said. “We will continue to stand with them to promote balance, fairness, and affordability in housing across Cross River State.”

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In a decisive move to rein in the activities of property agents and curb arbitrary rent increases, the Abia State House of Assembly has advanced two landmark bills aimed at reforming the state’s housing sector.

The legislative action includes the first reading of a bill sponsored by Hon. Egwuronu Mandela Obasi (Ohafia North), and the second reading of another sponsored by Deputy Speaker Austin Okezie Meregini (Umuahia East). Both bills seek to introduce greater oversight and consumer protection for tenants across the state.

If passed into law, the proposed legislation will mandate compulsory registration of all property agents with the Ministry of Housing. It will also criminalize the widespread practice of collecting rent from multiple tenants for the same property.

A key provision of the bill pegs the maximum agent’s fee at 5% of the rent, while also capping rent advances at six months, a move designed to ease financial pressure on tenants. Landlords will be prohibited from demanding, and tenants from paying, more than six months’ rent upfront.

The legislation also aims to tackle exploitative practices in the rental market, including hidden or excessive charges. It provides a legal framework to challenge such actions, classifying them as violations once the bill is enacted.

To further streamline the process of property recovery, the bill mandates that tenants must present proof of rent and utility payments when initiating or responding to tenancy-related litigation. Importantly, it also shields tenants from eviction while contesting rent hikes in court.

In a related development, the House passed into second reading H.A.B. 34 of 2025, also sponsored by Deputy Speaker Meregini, which complements the earlier bill by specifically targeting arbitrary rent increases and reinforcing protections for both tenants and landlords.

Commenting on the twin legislative efforts, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emereuwa, emphasized that the bills represent a proactive step towards bringing order, fairness, and accountability to the housing sector in Abia State.

“These bills are about doing the right thing, ensuring that both landlords and tenants are treated fairly, and that property transactions are conducted transparently,” he said.

The proposed reforms have been welcomed by housing advocates and tenant groups, who have long called for tighter regulation of the property market in the state.

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