House of Reps Moves to Stop Landlords from Demanding Multiple Years' Rent in FCT

The House of Representatives on Thursday took a step by passing a bill for the first reading. This bill aims to control advance rent payments and stop landlords in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from forcing tenants to pay more than one year’s rent upfront.

The bill, called the Federal Capital Territory Advance Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Bill, 2026 (HB.2839), is sponsored by Paul Nnamchi from the APC in Enugu. Ahmed Doro from the PDP in Katsina is the co-sponsor. This bill also wants to create a regulatory body to protect both tenants and landlords from illegal rental practices.

According to the bill, landlords, estate agents, property managers, or anyone representing a landlord cannot ask for, receive, or force a tenant to pay over 12 months’ rent in advance. This rule applies when granting, renewing, or continuing a tenancy.

The bill also aims to stop landlords and agents from getting around this rule with extra charges, compulsory service fees, or any tricks that make tenants pay more than a year’s rent upfront. A copy of the bill obtained by PREMIUM TIMES confirms that this law would cover both residential and commercial rentals in the FCT.

Tenants can still choose to pay more than 12 months’ rent in advance, but only if they decide to do so themselves, not if the landlord imposes it. "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 also says that payments should be made freely without force, discrimination, threats, or retaliation. It also requires that any agreement be written down.

Proposed Rent Authority in FCT

The legislation plans to set up the Federal Capital Territory Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Authority. This body would manage and enforce the new law.

This authority would have the power to handle complaints, check on landlords, estate agents, and property managers. It would issue compliance notices, help settle disputes, and order refunds if illegal rent was collected.

They would also keep a public list of letting agents who need to register, set up complaint offices, and provide electronic reporting options throughout the FCT, including satellite towns. The authority would publish regular reports about rental practices and how enforcement is going.

If the authority finds that a landlord or agent took illegal rent, they could order a refund within 30 days. Anyone who knowingly asks for or takes more than the allowed advance rent could face a fine between ₦500,000 and ₦5 million. A company could be fined between ₦5 million and ₦20 million.

The court could also order the landlord to refund the money, pay compensation for losses, or cover legal costs.

The bill also wants to stop illegal eviction methods. This includes threats, violence, cutting off essential services, removing or damaging a tenant’s belongings, changing locks without permission, and other self-help tactics.

Yet, the proposed law does allow landlords to recover rent that is legally due and to reclaim their property through the proper legal channels.

Rising Rents in Abuja

This proposed law comes as many people are worried about the high cost of renting in Abuja.

PREMIUM TIMES reported in July 2025 that many residents in the FCT are struggling with high rents and sudden increases in rent, agency fees, agreement fees, and caution fees.

Residents said that the rising cost of housing is forcing some to leave their homes and neighborhoods for cheaper areas. Sometimes these areas lack good infrastructure or require longer commutes.

The bill aims to tackle one of the biggest challenges tenants face: having to gather large sums of money upfront to secure or keep their homes.

Also, in 2022, a similar bill was introduced by a former senator for Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi. This bill made it to the second reading in the Senate. It aimed to cut down advance rent payments from one or two years to just three months, followed by monthly payments.

This issue is not just in Abuja. In Lagos, where housing costs are also a major worry, the state government introduced the Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill, 2025. This bill aims to limit advance rent, regulate estate agents, and give tenants a way to challenge unfair rent hikes.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Lagos bill wants to stop landlords from asking for more than one year’s rent from new tenants. Tenants already on a payment plan should not be forced to pay more than three months in advance.

The Lagos proposal also seeks to address high agency fees, illegal eviction methods, and long disputes between landlords and tenants.