The Lagos State Government has moved to curb forceful evictions and other abusive practices by landlords with a proposed Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025, which criminalises harassment, illegal eviction and all forms of self help outside the courts.
Under the draft legislation, landlords will no longer be permitted to eject tenants without a valid court order or resort to tactics such as cutting off electricity and water supply, removing roofs, or deliberately damaging properties to force tenants out.
Section 10 of the Bill clearly outlines the obligations of landlords, stating that a landlord must not disturb a tenant’s quiet and peaceful enjoyment of the premises.
It expressly prohibits actions such as removing the roof, cutting utilities, or doing anything capable of interfering with the tenant’s lawful occupation of the property.
The proposed law goes further in Section 43, prescribing stiff penalties for offenders. It provides that any person who demolishes, alters or modifies a building with the intention of ejecting a tenant without a court order, or who forcibly ejects, threatens, molests or harasses a tenant by words or actions, commits an offence.
Such an offender, upon conviction, faces a fine of not less than one million naira or a custodial or non custodial sentence of up to six months, or both.
The provisions are a direct response to persistent reports across the state of landlords locking tenants out of their homes, breaking into apartments, or deploying thugs during tenancy disputes.
The Bill also introduces stronger judicial oversight over rent increases. Section 33 empowers the court to determine whether a rent hike is reasonable, taking into account rent levels in the same or similar localities, evidence presented by both parties, and any special circumstances relating to the property.
Importantly, landlords are barred from evicting tenants while such cases are pending before the court. This offers critical protection in a city where rents are often increased by between 50 and 200 per cent, sometimes without adequate notice or justification.
According to the Bill, an existing tenant may apply to the court for an order declaring a rent increase unreasonable. In determining the application, the court is required to hear both parties and consider comparative rent levels, witness evidence and any relevant special circumstances.
Where the court finds the increase unreasonable, it may order that the rent be adjusted to a specific amount. The law expressly states that it shall be unlawful to eject a tenant while such an action is awaiting determination.
Beyond eviction and rent control, the proposed legislation seeks to streamline dispute resolution and strengthen transparency in tenancy administration.
Sections 20 to 24 introduce faster legal processes, allowing tenancy matters to be filed by originating summons, with hearings to be scheduled within 14 days. Courts may also sit on weekends, public holidays, or conduct proceedings virtually, while mediation is limited to a maximum of 30 days.
The Bill also addresses the management of refundable charges. Under Section 12, landlords are required to provide tenants with a detailed account of how service charges and security deposits are utilised every six months. Security deposits must be refunded at the end of the tenancy, except where there is documented evidence of damage.
In addition, Section 7 affirms tenants’ rights to privacy, peaceful enjoyment of their homes, access to common areas, and compensation for approved improvements made to the property.
If passed into law, the Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 is expected to significantly alter landlord tenant relations in the state, shifting disputes away from intimidation and self help toward structured legal processes and clearer protections for tenants.