The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to enforce the Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2015, in a bid to tackle illegal and excessive rent increases by landlords across the state.
The resolution was reached during plenary today, following a motion moved by Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh, who stressed the need to curb the rising trend of arbitrary rent hikes, reports The Nation.
He cited Section 37 of the Tenancy Law, which prohibits unreasonable rent increases and provides legal avenues for tenants to challenge such actions in court.
Olumoh warned that the unchecked rent hikes were contributing to the growing number of homeless people in the state.
Supporting the motion, Hon. Desmond Elliot noted that rent increases in his Surulere I constituency have spiked by 100 to 200 percent.
While acknowledging the impact of infrastructural development, he maintained that it should not justify arbitrary rent hikes.
Elliot also called for a review of the two-year tenancy agreement term, as well as agency and legal fees.
Hon. Aro Moshood decried landlords’ disregard for tenants’ income levels and criticised evictions carried out without due legal process.
“Many people earning minimum wage can’t even afford a room,” he said.
Hon. Shabi Adebola urged the government to provide more low-cost housing options to cushion the effect on the less privileged.
In his ruling, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa emphasised the need for a broader conversation, including the rising cost of building materials.
He directed the House Committee on Housing, chaired by Hon. Ege Olusegun, to summon relevant stakeholders and agencies for an interface aimed at finding lasting solutions.
The House also resolved to involve the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in creating public awareness about the provisions of the Tenancy Law.
In another development, the House passed for the third time a bill to establish the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy.
The Speaker subsequently instructed the Acting Clerk, Mr. Abubakar Ottun, to forward a clean copy to the governor for assent.
