The House of Representatives on Thursday handed for first studying a bill looking for to regulate advance rent funds and prohibit landlords in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from compulsorily demanding a couple of yr’s rent in advance.
The Federal Capital Territory Advance Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Bill, 2026 (HB.2839), sponsored by Paul Nnamchi (APC, Enugu), with Ahmed Doro (PDP, Katsina) as co-sponsor, additionally seeks to set up a regulatory authority to defend tenants and landlords from illegal rental practices.
The bill proposes that landlords, property brokers, property managers or anybody appearing on behalf of a landlord should not demand, obtain or compel a tenant to pay greater than 12 months’ rent in advance as a situation for granting, renewing or persevering with a tenancy.
It additionally seeks to stop landlords and brokers from circumventing the proposed restriction by means of further expenses, compulsory service expenses, synthetic renewal of tenancy agreements or different preparations designed to pressure tenants to pay greater than a yr’s rent upfront.
The bill, a duplicate of which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, says the proposed regulation would apply to each residential and business tenancies in the FCT.
Under the proposed laws, tenants might voluntarily pay greater than 12 months’ rent in advance, however solely the place the supply is initiated by the tenant and isn’t imposed as a situation by the owner.
“A landlord, estate agent, property manager or other person acting on behalf of a landlord shall not demand, receive or compel a tenant to pay more than twelve months’ rent in advance as a condition…”
The bill additional requires that such funds be made with out coercion, discrimination, threats or retaliation and that the settlement be documented in writing.
Proposed FCT rent authority
The laws proposes the institution of the Federal Capital Territory Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Authority to administer and implement the regulation.
The authority can be empowered to obtain and examine complaints, monitor landlords, property brokers and property managers, concern compliance notices, facilitate mediation and order refunds the place illegal rent funds have been made.
It would additionally preserve a public register of letting brokers the place registration is required, set up criticism workplaces and digital reporting channels throughout the FCT, together with satellite tv for pc cities, and publish periodic experiences on rental practices and enforcement outcomes.
The proposed authority would additionally have the option to order a landlord or agent to refund an illegal fee inside 30 days the place it determines that rent was acquired in violation of the regulation.
An individual who knowingly calls for or receives greater than the permitted advance rent might face a nice of between ₦500,000 and ₦5 million, whereas a physique company might be fined between ₦5 million and ₦20 million.
The courtroom might moreover order a refund, compensation for confirmed loss or fee of lawful prices.
The bill additionally seeks to prohibit illegal eviction practices, together with threats or violence, disconnection of important providers, removing or destruction of a tenant’s property, altering locks with out lawful authority and different types of self-help.
However, the proposed regulation preserves the rights of landlords to get well rent lawfully due and get well possession of their property by means of due course of.
Rising rents in Abuja
The proposed laws comes amid persistent considerations over the price of renting lodging in Abuja.
PREMIUM TIMES reported in July 2025 that residents throughout the FCT had been combating rising rents and arbitrary will increase in rent, company charges, settlement charges and warning charges.
Residents disclosed that the rising price of lodging was forcing some individuals to depart their houses and neighbourhoods for cheaper areas, generally with poorer infrastructure and longer commuting distances.
The proposed bill is subsequently concentrating on one of many main pressures confronting tenants: the requirement to elevate massive sums directly earlier than securing or retaining lodging.
Meanwhile, in 2022, an analogous bill sponsored by a former senator for Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi, scaled second studying on the Senate.
The bill sought to regulate the mode of fee of rent in the FCT by chopping down advance fee of rent from one or two years by tenants to three months and subsequent month-to-month funds.
READ ALSO: Reps demand enforcement of 18-year minimum marriage age
The downside will not be peculiar to Abuja.
In Lagos, the place the price of lodging has additionally turn into a significant concern, the state authorities launched the Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill, 2025, which sought, amongst different issues, to restrict advance rent, regulate property brokers and supply mechanisms for tenants to problem unfair rent will increase.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Lagos proposal sought to stop landlords from demanding a couple of yr’s rent from new tenants, whereas sitting tenants on periodic fee preparations couldn’t be compelled to pay greater than three months in advance.
The Lagos proposal additionally sought to handle extreme company charges, unlawful eviction techniques and extended disputes between landlords and tenants.
Discover extra from Premium Times Nigeria
Subscribe to get the newest posts despatched to your electronic mail.
