Tenants are now required to report any landlord or real estate agent asking them to pay more than one year’s rent to the Lagos State government.
Barakat Bakare, Special Adviser on Housing to the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA), disclosed this as part of the government’s commitment to regulating the property market and making housing more accessible.
She said the government is actively reviewing the state’s tenancy law to close regulatory loopholes, particularly regarding caution fees, which she described as a recurring point of friction between landlords and tenants.
Bakare urged Lagosians to either visit the LASRERA office physically or use the agency’s website to file complaints against landlords who violate the law.
“The minimum you can collect is one month’s rent. You can collect quarterly, every three months, or a year, but nothing more than a year,” she said. “If we find the landlord wanting to collect more than one year, they can be reported to the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority at Block 21, First Floor, Alausa.”
The special adviser said ongoing discussions are being held with landlords, developers, and property associations aimed at promoting fair pricing and responsible housing practices.
She also explained that allocations for state-owned housing are based on strict and transparent criteria designed to ensure equity and accountability.
Bakare further advised prospective tenants to verify the registration status of any real estate agent or developer with LASRERA before engaging in transactions.
