The Enugu State House of Assembly on Tuesday moved forward with plans to amend the 2004 Landlord and Tenant Law.
The lawmakers passed the bill for a second reading at a plenary session at the Assembly Complex in Enugu.
Grassroots Parrot reports that the amendment aims to reduce the frustration and exploitation experienced by prospective tenants.
Okey Mbah, the sponsor of the bill, argued that many tenants struggle with excessive charges such as legal fees, agency fees, caution fees and caretaker’s commission, making it harder for them to afford decent housing.
He emphasised that the bill has gained significant public interest within and beyond the state.
While acknowledging that some individuals benefit from these extra charges, Mbah clarified that the proposed amendment was not designed to target anyone or increase rent, instead, it seeks to curb the excesses of agents and provide protection for low-income earners.
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He stated, “This second amendment bill is proposed to alter the provisions of the 2004 Landlord and Tenant Bill as amended in 2008.
“It is basically proposed to address the arbitrary and high cost charged by agents in Enugu State in the course of procuring house rents from prospective tenants.
“This high cost to prospective tenants comes with no regulations as the rent markets have become a free-for-all, with most persons posing as agents defrauding innocent accommodation seekers.
“These agents disappear without a trace, in most cases.”
The amendment proposes specific measures to regulate fees charged by agents and legal representatives.
“Section 3 of this amendment proposed an amount not exceeding 10 per cent of the annual rent as an agent fee, and Section 4 also proposed the same to apply to the legal fee charged.
“The bill, at the same time, seeks to abolish other arbitrary charges like caution fees, management bills, and other hidden charges added to prospective tenants,” Mbah stated.
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During the debate, Anthony Nwankwo (PDP, Awgu South), expressed concern over the high cost of rent, legal and agency fees in Enugu, comparing them to those in Lagos and Abuja.
He called for an investigation into landlords who increase rent annually, noting that this trend places a heavy burden on residents.
However, Hyginus Okoh (PDP, Enugu East Urban), cautioned that regulating agent fees could have unintended consequences.
Okoh recalled that when surveyors were asked to pay a fixed amount to the government, the cost of land surveying immediately shot up, warning that a similar situation could arise with rental agents.
Following the debate, Speaker of the House, Uche Ugwu, directed the House Committees on Housing and Judiciary to review the bill and submit their findings by March 25.