Lagos’ “New” Tenancy Law — What’s Actually Going On

There’s been a lot of noise recently about a new tenancy law in Lagos State. Social media posts, forwarded WhatsApp messages, and even casual conversations make it sound like the government has already passed a fresh set of rules for landlords and tenants.

But here’s the honest truth — Lagos has NOT officially passed any new tenancy law yet.

What we have is a proposed bill, discussions around it, and plenty of rumours filling the gaps.

So what’s the real situation?

The last legally active tenancy law in Lagos is still the Lagos Tenancy Law of 2015.

In early and mid-2025, a draft version of a new tenancy bill began circulating, and people started sharing “new rules” online — things like:

“Landlords can only collect 3 months upfront.”

“Agency fees must not exceed 5%.”

“New strict eviction rules.”

The Lagos State Government later came out to say these viral claims were not yet law. No amendment has been officially passed or signed.

What is happening?

The Lagos State House of Assembly is currently reviewing something called the Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025.

If eventually passed, the bill aims to:

Reduce agency fees (possibly to around 5% per year)

Clarify eviction processes

Improve tenant-landlord transparency

Apply the rules evenly across the whole state

Reduce rent exploitation and arbitrary charges

Basically, it’s designed to modernize Lagos renting — but for now, it is still a bill, not a law.

Why are people confused?

Two main reasons:

1. Fake “new law” posts went viral

Graphics and messages claiming to be “the new tenancy law” spread online — but the government debunked them.

2. People are desperate for change

Renting in Lagos can be stressful, unpredictable, and expensive. So anything that looks like relief spreads quickly.

What this means for tenants right now

The 2015 law is still what protects you.

There is no new legally enforceable rule limiting advance rent to 3 months.

Agency fees still follow the old guideline (usually 10%, depending on agreement).

Eviction rules remain unchanged.

Until the new bill is debated, passed, and signed into law, your rights are still based on the existing law.

What this means for landlords and agents

Don’t panic about the viral posts. Nothing changes for you yet.

However, if the new bill passes, you will need to adjust things like:

Agency fees

Notice periods

How you handle rent increases and evictions

Documentation and transparency

It’s wise to stay informed so you’re not taken by surprise.

Final Thoughts

Lagos is definitely moving toward reforming its tenancy laws — and honestly, it’s overdue. The proposed bill could bring more balance and fairness between tenants and landlords.

But for now, let’s be clear:

There is NO new tenancy law in Lagos yet.

Just discussions. Just proposals. Just anticipation.

When the new law is officially passed, signed, and published, that’s when the real change begins.

If you want, I can also write a simple breakdown of your rights under the 2015 tenancy law so you know exactly where you stand today.