Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has confirmed that the state government has completed its preparations to enforce a one-year rent payment clause embedded in the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency law passed in 2025. The provision aims to prevent landlords in the state from demanding two or three years of rent in advance, a practice Hamzat described as exploitative and unfair to tenants.
Hamzat, who is also the All Progressives Congress Party's governorship candidate, made the announcement during a governorship debate organized by the Nigeria Debate Consortium in Lagos on Sunday, November 9. He emphasized that while the law was already enacted, the next critical step was ensuring strict compliance across the real estate sector.
Addressing the housing deficit and the prevailing high rents in Lagos, Hamzat stated that enforcing this restriction is a priority for the incoming administration. He argued that no one receives salary payments three years in advance, making it unreasonable for landlords to demand such long-term upfront rent.
The law also mandates that all real estate agents operating in Lagos must register with the state and be listed on an official database managed by the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency. Hamzat urged residents to utilize the agency's online platform to report issues and assist the government in monitoring activities within the sector.
"So our appeal to the citizens is in terms of communication, to make sure that people use that site, because that is the only way we can track. Because this, when these things happen, government must also have the feedback," he said.
The enforcement of the one-year rent rule represents a significant policy shift aimed at protecting tenants from predatory rental practices and promoting transparency in Lagos's booming real estate market.