5 takeaways in the Enugu new bill to protect tenants

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The law to protect the poor is in the making in the Enugu State House of Assembly.

The bill, titled “Bill for a Law to Amend the Landlord and Tenant Law Cap 101 of Enugu State 2024” was sponsored by Mr Okey Mbah. It has passed its first reading yesterday.

• Tenant Rights in Nigeria: A tenant beats his landlord to a pulp for locking his room

But there are other astonishing things this bill echoes. That’s that Okey Mbah, member representing Nkanu East, should be sensitive. Unlike Enugu North, Enugu South, Enugu East and some parts of Nkanu West, Mbah’s constituency is remote, peopled majorly by locals who don’t have any need to suffer the landlords’ brutality seen in the city. Yet the lawmaker was sensitive!

Tenant rights in Nigeria: 5 points in new Enugu tenancy bill

The bill was greeted with much admiration and has, since yesterday, dominated discussions in social forums in the state.

The Mail has broken down the five things the bill says:

1. The bill seeks to protect those looking for accommodation from hands of fraudsters. If it becomes law, all persons who wish to be land or house agents must register with relevant government agencies and be well certified.
2. It puts a 10% cap on both legal and landlord’s tenancy fees. There is a part of One-Day-Precious almost at the outskirts of Enugu metropolis. There, a 3-bedroom apartment is rented for ₦400,000 presently. But you have to pay additional ₦100,000 legal fees to lawyer, and another ₦100,000 to the agents. The worst part of it is that anyone can pose as a lawyer and collect the money. Besides, you’re paying the agent and legal fees before you pay the rent. Also, the racket is solid that you must pass through these processes and pay all the money even if you find the apartment yourself. Under the proposed law, such agent in the One-Day-Precious would take ₦40,000 or less.
3. If made law eventually, the practice of evicting a tenant at the whim of the landlord is gone. It stipulated how a tenant should be evicted if there is need, and it gives ample time for such tenant to get ready before leaving.
4. Anyone caught violating this after it becomes law will face fine of ₦500,000 or six-month prison term, or both.
5. The bill also grants government ministries and agencies authorities to make regulations on housing issues in the future.

In his remarks, Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Uche Ugwu, commended Mbah, described the bill as “timely.”