Tenancy Bill: Lagos Moves to Criminalise Unlawful House Evictions, Tenant Harassment

The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans for a sweeping overhaul of tenancy laws with a proposed bill that would criminalise the harassment and unlawful eviction of tenants, marking a major shift in landlord–tenant relations in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

The proposed Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 seeks to outlaw self-help eviction practices commonly reported across the state, including locking tenants out of their homes, disconnecting utilities, dismantling buildings, or using force and intimidation to settle disputes.

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Under the draft legislation, landlords will no longer be permitted to remove tenants without a valid court order. Any attempt to eject occupants through extra-legal means would constitute a criminal offence.

Section 10 of the bill places a clear obligation on landlords to guarantee tenants’ “quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the premises.”

This includes refraining from acts such as removing roofs, cutting off electricity or water supply, or otherwise interfering with a tenant’s lawful occupation of a property.

The bill responds to widespread complaints from residents who allege that landlords often resort to intimidation, forced entry, or the use of thugs to enforce rent demands or evictions.

To deter such practices, Section 43 prescribes stiff penalties for violations. Any person found guilty of demolishing or altering a building to eject a tenant without a court order, or of threatening, molesting, or forcibly removing a tenant, faces a minimum fine of ₦1 million, a custodial or non-custodial sentence of up to six months, or both.

Legal Pathway to Challenge Rent Increases

The proposed law also introduces safeguards against what many tenants describe as arbitrary and excessive rent hikes, which in some parts of Lagos have reportedly risen by 50-200 per cent with little notice.

Section 33 empowers tenants to approach the court for a declaration that a rent increase is unreasonable.

In determining such cases, the court may consider rental values in comparable locations, review evidence from both landlord and tenant, and assess any special circumstances.

Crucially, the bill expressly prohibits landlords from evicting tenants while a rent dispute is pending before the court.

The legislation states that it is “unlawful for a landlord to eject a tenant from any premises pending the determination of the action.”

If the court rules in favour of the tenant, it may set a new and fair rental amount.

In a bid to reduce delays in tenancy-related cases, Sections 20 to 24 of the bill introduce accelerated legal procedures.

Disputes may be commenced by originating summons, with hearings scheduled within 14 days of filing.

The courts will also be empowered to sit on weekends and public holidays or conduct virtual proceedings. Where mediation is ordered, it must be concluded within 30 days, preventing prolonged disputes that often leave tenants vulnerable.

The bill further strengthens financial transparency and tenant protections. Section 12 mandates landlords to provide tenants with a biannual account detailing the use of service charges and security deposits.

Security deposits must be refunded at the end of a tenancy unless there is documented evidence of damage to the property.

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 Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 would represent one of the most comprehensive efforts by the Lagos State Government to curb abusive landlord practices, promote fairness in the rental market, and provide stronger legal remedies for tenants in Africa’s most populous city.