By JKNewsMedia
ARBITRARY RENT increases, illegal charges and fraudulent practices in Lagos’ real estate sector are being targeted under a proposed tenancy law unveiled by the Lagos State Government.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, disclosed the plan during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja.
Akinderu Fatai said the proposed legislation, currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly, was designed to address growing concerns over excessive rent hikes, arbitrary agency fees and fraudulent practices by unregistered estate agents operating in the state.
He stated that the tenancy bill was presently at the committee stage in the House of Assembly and would introduce reforms aimed at sanitising the housing and real estate sector in Lagos.
The commissioner explained that one of the key provisions in the proposed law would make registration with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority mandatory for all estate agents operating in Lagos.
He noted that operating without registration would become a punishable offence once the bill becomes law.
Akinderu Fatai said the measure was intended to tackle the activities of unregistered agents accused of exploiting tenants through excessive charges, multiple sales of properties and other fraudulent transactions.
The commissioner also disclosed that the proposed law would fast track tenancy disputes through weekend and public holiday sittings for tenancy related matters.
He added that the law, when passed, would apply across all parts of Lagos State without exemption.
According to him, tenants seeking legal action against landlords would be required to provide proof of rent payments and updated utility bills before initiating court proceedings.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that Akinderu Fatai said the state government was determined to restore sanity, transparency and accountability in the real estate sector while protecting residents from exploitation.
He revealed that LASRERA had intensified enforcement against fraudulent operators and recovered more than N270 million from fraudulent estate agents between 2025 and 2026.
The commissioner also stated that the government had consistently maintained that estate agency fees in Lagos should not exceed 10% of the total rent payable by tenants.
He reiterated the commitment of the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu to making housing transactions more transparent, affordable and investor friendly across the state.
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What tenants pay for.is beypng the current 20% agency fee. They pay for legal, damages (which never gets refunded when such leaves the house in a better condition.)
Government.should wade in on pegging how much houses (types of.facility) in each envoronment should cost.
Should government actually weigh in that when many landlords are saying governments didn’t build their houses for them? Some also said it is the same government making costs of building materials very difficult and expecting them to rent out houses at a loss. The situation is rather multi-faceted, and I think the onus is first on the government to create an enabling environment for building materials to be better affordable for landlords, as well as the potential ones.