Reps Move To Protect Tenants Against Arbitrary Rent Increase By Landlords

By Alkassim Bala Tsakuwa, Abuja

The House of Representatives has moved to protect tenants from arbitrary rent increase by landlords.

The House made the move after it adopted a motion titled the “Need to Regulate Arbitrary Rent Increase and Protect Tenants from Exploitation” moved by Hon Bassey Akiba at the Plenary on Thursday.

The lawmaker noted that, there was an urgent need to balance the rights of property owners with the welfare of tenants to ensure fairness, stability, and sustainability in the housing sector.

He added that, the challenging economic climate is having a detrimental effect on individuals, households, and businesses, especially for those living in rental accommodations who are now grappling with escalating rents.

Hon. Akiba said, “There is often a sudden surge in rent in areas after public infrastructure such as roads, markets, or other amenities are constructed evident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where rent in areas with newly constructed roads had skyrocketed from ₦800,000 to as high as ₦2.5 million per annum, placing an unbearable financial burden on tenants.

“The wanton exploitation by property owners undermines the government’s intention to improve citizens’ welfare through public infrastructure projects and drives Nigerians into hardship, forcing some to resort to crime to meet inflated demands”.

According to him, Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) prioritizes the welfare of the people as the primary responsibility of government.

He further informed that, housing has been universally accepted as the second most important basic need for human survival and an essential component of improving the quality of life for citizens.

He said, “According to the United Nations Habitat Agenda, the provision of adequate housing that is safe, secure, accessible, affordable, and sanitary is a fundamental human right;

“Housing is crucial for national development and serves as an important source of capital formation, employment generation, and income production”.

The House adopted the motion and urged the Federal Government to prioritise investing in affordable housing initiatives, ensure access to low-cost housing for citizens and reducing pressure on the rental market.

It also urge the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to collaborate with State Governments to enforce rent control measures, ensuring that public infrastructure projects do not lead to exploitative rent hikes, and cap rent increases at no more than 20% of the existing rent, irrespective of infrastructure improvements or other factors.

The House mandated the Committee on Housing and Habitat to ensure compliance and report within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.