Lagos to Begin Enforcing Single-Year Advance Rent Rule, Hamzat Says

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has said the state government has completed arrangements to implement the one-year advance rent rule in its real estate legislation, which is intended to stop landlords from requesting two or three years of rent upfront. Hamzat, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, said the requirement is part of the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency law that was passed in 2025. He added that ensuring compliance would be the government’s next priority. He spoke on Sunday, November 9, during a governorship debate organized by the Nigeria Debate Consortium in Lagos. Addressing the housing shortage and elevated rents in Lagos, Hamzat said the next stage would be to enforce laws that prevent landlords from seeking more than one year of rent in advance. He said tenants should not be asked to pay two or three years ahead, noting that workers are not paid salaries three years in advance. Hamzat also said the law requires real estate agents to register with the state and appear in an official database. He encouraged residents to use the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency’s online platform to report problems and assist the government in monitoring activities in the sector. He said residents’ use of the site is important because it gives the government a way to track issues and receive feedback when problems occur.