By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Kogi State House of Assembly has moved to bring greater order to the state’s increasingly strained rental market, proposing legislation to check arbitrary rent increases, excessive agency fees and other charges imposed on tenants.
The proposed Kogi State Tenancy Law 2025 seeks to establish clearer rules governing the relationship between landlords, tenants and estate agents while protecting the legitimate interests of all parties in the property sector.
Hon. Akus Lawal (APC-Ankpa 1), who disclosed this after Thursday’s plenary in Lokoja, said the move followed the presentation of the public hearing report on the bill.
Lawal said the sharp increase in house rents had made decent accommodation increasingly out of reach for many residents, making urgent regulatory intervention necessary.
He said the Assembly had identified several factors driving the rising cost of accommodation and was determined to address them through legislation.
A major provision of the proposed law, according to Lawal, is the compulsory registration of estate agents operating in the state with the Ministry of Housing.
He said the measure would enable government to distinguish genuine practitioners from unscrupulous operators, monitor their activities and strengthen security within the property sector.
The lawmaker also raised concerns over the growing burden of agency, caution and other charges demanded from prospective tenants.
He said some tenants currently pay between 15 and 20 per cent in various fees, a situation the proposed legislation seeks to address by consolidating such charges into a single-use fee of less than five per cent.
The bill would also place restrictions on arbitrary rent increases, with landlords required to provide justification for any increase, particularly where there has been no corresponding improvement or renovation of the property.
Lawal stressed that the legislation was not designed to turn tenants against landlords, but to create a fairer tenancy system in which the rights of both parties are protected.
«“As much as we are protecting the tenants, we are also obligated to protect the landlords, so that we can have a balanced relationship between the two going forward,” he said.»
While seeking greater protection for tenants, the proposed law would equally impose responsibilities on occupants.
Lawal said tenants who deliberately damage rented properties or refuse to vacate after the expiration of their tenancy agreements would face sanctions.
He explained that tenants found responsible for damaging rented premises would be required to restore the property to an acceptable condition before vacating, subject to verification by the landlord.
The bill is also expected to prescribe penalties, including fines and possible imprisonment, for tenants found guilty of deliberate destruction of rented property.
Beyond regulation, Lawal said the state government was also working to expand housing supply, particularly for civil servants.
He said increasing the number of available housing units, alongside effective regulation, would help address the imbalance between demand and supply that has contributed to rising rents.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that the proposed legislation, if enacted and properly enforced, would bring greater transparency and accountability to Kogi’s property market while improving residents’ access to decent and affordable housing.