The motion raised by Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh in the Lagos State House of Assembly speaks to a growing crisis in Lagos: the sharp and often arbitrary rent hikes that are making life increasingly difficult for residents. His concern about the rising number of homeless people highlights how deeply housing insecurity is affecting the state, particularly in urban and densely populated areas.
By citing Section 37 of the Lagos Tenancy Law (2015), Olumoh is emphasizing that there are already legal frameworks meant to curb such excesses. That law notably:
- Limits unreasonable rent increases
- Defines tenant and landlord rights
- Prohibits advance rent beyond one year
- Disallows forceful evictions without proper legal procedure
Desmond Elliot’s contribution paints a broader picture: infrastructure and urban renewal — while necessary — have inadvertently pushed rents up, especially in gentrifying areas. And Aro Moshood’s point about landlords ignoring tenant income levels underlines a harsh reality: the housing market is increasingly disconnected from people’s earning power.
Speaker Obasa’s remarks show some awareness of the complexity — it’s not just about rent, but also the soaring costs of building materials, land, and the dynamics between real estate developers and agents. His directive for a committee to engage stakeholders suggests that the Assembly may pursue a more holistic solution.
This motion could open the door to:
- Better enforcement of the existing tenancy law
- Possible rent control policies or guidelines
- More affordable housing initiatives or public-private partnerships in real estate
- Regulation of real estate agents and developers
Do you live in Lagos or have any personal experience with rent issues there? It’s definitely something affecting a huge portion of the population.