Stakeholders review Lagos tenancy law

Stakeholders are reviewing the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 to achieve a better relationship between landlords and tenants in the state.

At a stakeholders meeting held at the state secretariat, at the weekend, chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Prof. Gbolahan Elias (SAN), said the review seeks to address controversial provisions, including the role of estate valuers and surveyors, legal practitioners and the judiciary in tenancy matters.

According to him, “the exercise is to make the law modern, fair, just, efficient, accessible and in consonance with prevailing social and moral values of the society.”

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, said: “It is believed that certain provisions seemingly favour a particular group over others, hence the clamour for the review. The feedback from questionnaires received from various quarters reveals that the citizens are not content with the present state of the law.”

Essentially, stakeholders are considering the need to introduce rules of procedure for recovery of possession to help speed up proceedings and suggestions on the time limit for the disposal of tenancy matters, amongst others.

During an interactive session, a stakeholder, Adedoyin Ogunade, said tenants were being over-protected. “Why does a landlord has to commence proceedings in court after requisite notice has been given? If the law says a quit notice of one year has to be given, why do I not just register the notice in court the moment it is given and subsequently obtain an automatic order of the court to eject the tenant if he fails to give up possession at the expiration of the notice. Recovery of arrears of rent can thereafter be handled by the court.”