The Kogi State House of Assembly is advancing legislation to regulate tenancy arrangements across the state amid growing concerns over rising housing costs, arbitrary rent increases and excessive fees imposed on prospective tenants.
The proposed Kogi State Tenancy Law 2025 seeks to establish clearer rules for landlords, tenants and estate agents while defining the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved in rental transactions.
A member representing Ankpa 1 State Constituency, Akus Lawal, disclosed details of the proposed legislation while presenting the public hearing report on the bill.
Lawal said a major concern addressed by the proposed law was the multiple charges prospective tenants are required to pay in addition to their annual rent before securing accommodation.
According to him, some tenants currently pay between 15 and 20 per cent in agency fees, caution fees and other accommodation-related charges.
He said the proposed framework would consolidate the various charges into a single fee of less than five per cent, a move expected to significantly reduce the initial financial burden on tenants.
The measure is also intended to address situations in which prospective tenants are required to pay several separate charges before taking possession of rented accommodation.
Under the proposed legislation, all estate agents operating in Kogi State would be required to register with the Kogi State Ministry of Housing.
Lawal said the registration system would enable the government to identify legitimate property agents, regulate their activities and strengthen security and accountability within the property sector.
The requirement is also expected to curb the activities of unregulated operators and provide a clearer mechanism for resolving disputes involving landlords, tenants and estate agents.
The bill further proposes restrictions on arbitrary rent increases, with landlords prohibited from increasing rent without reasonable justification, particularly where there has been no corresponding renovation, improvement or other legitimate basis for the increase.
The provision is aimed at giving tenants greater predictability over housing costs while preserving landlords’ rights to review rents where legitimate improvements or other justifiable circumstances exist.
However, the proposed legislation also contains provisions designed to protect landlords from abuse by tenants.
The Assembly is seeking stronger safeguards against tenants who deliberately damage rented properties or refuse to vacate after the expiration of their tenancy agreements.
Under the proposed law, tenants found to have deliberately damaged rented property could be required to restore it to an acceptable condition before vacating the premises, subject to verification by the landlord.
The bill also proposes fines and possible imprisonment for tenants found culpable of deliberately destroying rented property.
Lawmakers said the measures are intended to establish a balanced legal framework that protects tenants from excessive charges and unjustified rent increases while safeguarding landlords against deliberate property damage and other abuses of tenancy arrangements.
If enacted, the law would introduce a more formal regulatory framework for Kogi State’s rental market, covering estate-agent registration, agency and caution fees, rent reviews, property damage and the respective obligations of landlords and tenants.
In this article