The Lagos State Government, through the proposed Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025 (Draft), has criminalised harassment and illegal evictions, making it an offence for landlords to evict tenants without a valid court order or resort to self-help measures, such as cutting off utilities or dismantling parts of a property.
Section 10 of the bill states, “Obligations of the landlord include not disturbing the tenant’s quiet and peaceable enjoyment of the premises, including not removing the roof, cutting off electricity or water supply or doing anything that will interfere with peaceful enjoyment of the demised premises.”
Section 43 of the bill notes, “Subject to the provisions of any law, any person who demolishes, alters, or modifies a building to which this law applies with a view of ejecting a tenant and without an order of the court, or any person who, with a view of disturbing the quiet enjoyment of any tenant, attempts to forcibly eject or forcibly ejects a tenant, threatens or molests a tenant by action or words with a view of ejecting such tenant, or wilfully damages any premises, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not less than one million naira (N1,000,000.00) or a maximum of six (6) months’ custodial or non-custodial sentence, or both.”
This responds to widespread reports of landlords locking out tenants, breaking into their apartments, or deploying thugs during disputes.
Meanwhile, section 33 allows the court to determine whether a rent increase is justified by considering rent levels in similar areas, evidence presented by both parties, and any special circumstances related to the property.
