Tenants may soon breathe a sigh of relief, as Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP – Delta North) has introduced the “One-Month Rent Limitation and Landlord Registry Act”.
If passed, the proposed Bill will make it easier for tenants to pay rent on a monthly basis rather than once every two or three years, as is presently the case.
The legislator, who is likely to bring the draft Bill to the Senate when it resumes plenary on January 30, stated this at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
The senator also proposes establishing a rent control organization to efficiently monitor and enforce the law in all states and local governments.
He stated that one of the proposed Bill’s provisions would require every tenancy agreement to be in writing, with a copy lodged at the rent control agency by both landlord and tenant.
According to him, the agreement must be in place two weeks before the tenancy begins.
Nwoko stated that the Bill was required because he witnessed the problems that Nigerians encountered when forced to pay one year’s rent on housing while their paycheck was paid on a monthly basis.
He also stated that the proposed Bill imposed a severe punishment against a defaulting party, including a fee of 10% of the total rent sum.
He went on to say that rent control benefited both the rich and the poor because there were houses/flats of various categories throughout the country.
“The issue here is that it is unfair on tenants to be asked to look for such huge amounts for advance payment of rents of one year or two years.
“It is not done in any civilised nation. Where does the money come from? What is needed is a rent control body to effectively monitor and implement the law in every local government area and in every state.
“Every tenancy agreement must be in a written form and a copy must be filed by both landlord and tenant at the rent control agency.
“This must be done two weeks before the commencement of the tenancy otherwise there will be a fine of 10 per cent of the total rent sum.
“The Low cost housing has nothing to do with rent control, they are houses built by any of the tiers of government for the low income earners or for the vulnerable in the society, including the disabled.
“It is almost impossible for any government to build enough low cost houses for those in need unless they partner with some housing associations or some other voluntary agencies,” he said.
He added that the best way forward was for people to earn well and the banks to give mortgages at an affordable rate of not more than three per cent.
Nwoko said this way people would become house owners over a period of time, adding that it is a long term plan and solution. (NAN)