A bill that seeks to regulate the form of rent payment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been introduced in the Senate.
The bill entitled “Project for the Regulation of Anticipated Rents (Residential Apartments, Office Spaces, etc.) 2022”, was one of the five bills read for the first time during the plenary session this Tuesday.
Kogi Senator Smart Adeyemi sponsored the bill.
The bill, if passed, would make it a crime for any landlord to require tenants to pay rent in advance.
It aims to reduce the advance payment of rents from one or two years by tenants to three months and subsequent monthly payments.
The bill comes amid complaints from Abuja residents about the high cost and mode of rent payment.
Many residents of the FCT have lamented, over time, the difficulty of finding accommodation due to the high cost and a few who do, are asked to make an advance payment of two or three years.
Accommodation in the city ranges from N1.5 million to N4 million, depending on size. This has made many choose to stay in satellite cities such as Nyanya, Kubwa, Lugbe, Kuje, among others.
The invoice
Although details of the bill have not been released, the sponsor said the bill would allow tenants to pay the maximum upfront payment of three months’ rent, followed by a monthly payment thereafter.
Adeyemi, addressing reporters after the plenary session, said the legislation stems from the realization that FCT landlords force tenants to pay a year or two of rent in advance before giving them keys to their homes. apartments.
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The law, he said, is aimed at the welfare of the downtrodden, most of whom elected those who hold public office into office.
“Many FCT residents are having a hard time coping with the huge rent payment, which is why many of the purpose-built houses are empty.
“Some landlords always insist that their tenants pay rent for a year or two. That is wrong. With this bill, Nigerians, especially Abuja residents, will now pay rent on a monthly basis after the expiration of the first three months.
“The law that we are proposing stipulates a maximum advance payment of rent of three months. After the expiration of three months’ rent, tenants are expected to pay monthly. There are many tenants whose salaries compete with their rents because they live in cities like Abuja,” he explained.
The bill will provide a petition window for any tenant required to pay rent greater than three months, he said.
He also said that the bill is important because Nigerians need the protection of the law to be able to meet their basic needs after paying rents.
“Many owners did not get loans to build their houses, they are products of the free money they get from the system, but they make life difficult for poor Nigerians who do not have the privilege of earning ill-gotten money from the system and paying for structures
“The buildings are constructed in such a way that an average Nigerian would not be able to afford them. Many people are involved in corrupt practices to pay their rent while the ladies are engaged in prostitution.
“The law will prevent the working poor from being subjected to any form of oppression.”
Details of the bill will be discussed on another legislative day after which it will be read a second time and sent for public hearing and further legislative action.