Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, has pledged to enforce the state’s one-year rent payment limit to prevent landlords from demanding two or three years’ rent in advance from tenants.
Hamzat said the provision was already contained in the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency law enacted in 2025, stressing that the next step was to ensure strict compliance by landlords and other operators in the property sector.
He made the pledge on Sunday during a governorship debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, a coalition comprising The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable and Vanguard.
The deputy governor argued that demanding multiple years’ rent in advance places an unnecessary financial burden on tenants, noting that most workers do not receive their salaries several years ahead.
According to him, the government would intensify efforts to ensure that landlords comply with the existing law and protect residents from excessive rent demands.
Hamzat also disclosed that the law requires estate agents operating in Lagos State to register with the government, with their details captured in an official database to improve regulation of the real estate sector.
He urged residents to make use of the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency’s online platform to report landlords, estate agents and other property-related complaints.
He explained that feedback from residents would help the government monitor activities in the sector, identify violations and take appropriate action.
On affordable housing, the APC governorship candidate said his administration would prioritise the completion of ongoing housing projects and address delays associated with property regularisation and the processing of land title documents.
He noted that delays in obtaining land documents could increase the overall cost of housing, adding that the state government had introduced an automated system to enable residents to submit applications online.
Hamzat further called for stronger partnerships with private property developers to expand access to affordable housing, particularly in less affluent communities.
He suggested that developers constructing residential properties in high-income areas such as Ikoyi and Victoria Island should also consider investing in communities with lower-income residents.
According to him, the government would encourage developers to balance luxury housing projects with affordable developments in other parts of the state.
Hamzat said the housing component of his manifesto, tagged ‘Everyday Dignity’, was designed to ensure that accommodation costs did not undermine the living standards of Lagos residents.
He added that the government would continue engaging landlords to address the challenges confronting tenants while acknowledging the realities of operating a capitalist economy.
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