Rent exploitation: S4C commends Abia Assembly, demands swift assent to tenancy law

Mercy Iheoma Ihedigbo

Civil society organisation, Spaces for Change (S4C), has commended the Abia State House of Assembly for passing the Abia State Property and Tenancy Regulatory Authority Bill 2026, identified as H.A.B 34, describing the legislation as a significant step towards creating a fairer, more regulated and equitable housing system in the state.

S4C urged the Governor of Abia State to give prompt assent to the bill, saying its implementation would help address excessive rents, regulate the activities of landlords and housing agents, and protect tenants from exploitative practices within the state’s housing sector.

The organisation made the call in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri.

According to S4C, the proposed legislation would establish the Abia State Property and Tenancy Regulatory Authority, a regulatory body expected to oversee tenancy-related matters and bring greater order and accountability to the state’s property market.

A major provision of the legislation, according to the organisation, is the regulation of charges imposed by housing agents.

S4C noted that some agents currently demand commissions as high as 20 per cent of annual rent, a practice it described as exploitative and burdensome for residents already struggling with rising housing costs.

The organisation said the proposed law would cap chargeable agents’ commission at five per cent, a measure it believes could significantly reduce the financial burden on prospective tenants and promote greater transparency in the property market.

S4C also noted that the bill would address the activities of unlicensed housing agents and provide clearer regulatory mechanisms for landlords and tenants.

For landlords, the organisation said, the proposed law would establish clear procedures for dealing with tenants who breach tenancy agreements or engage in conduct that undermines the orderly occupation and management of properties.

The group described the passage of the bill by the Abia State House of Assembly as a demonstration of the positive impact that political will can have on public policy and governance.

It said the action showed that the government could respond to the needs and aspirations of citizens when lawmakers and policymakers were willing to address pressing socioeconomic challenges through appropriate legislation.

According to S4C, the housing crisis is not peculiar to Abia State, as residents across several major Nigerian urban centres are facing increasing difficulty in securing decent and affordable accommodation.

The organisation specifically cited cities such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, where rising rents and other associated housing costs have continued to put pressure on low- and middle-income households.

S4C warned that when formal housing becomes unaffordable, many residents are forced to seek alternative accommodation in informal settlements or occupy spaces that were not designed for residential purposes.

It linked the housing affordability crisis to the growth of slums, indiscriminate construction on waterways and the occupation of public spaces, including under-bridges, road medians and other open areas.

The organisation further observed that the situation could create a cycle in which residents move into unsafe or unauthorised locations because of the high cost of formal accommodation, only for government authorities to subsequently carry out demolitions or forced evictions.

According to S4C, such developments have serious social and environmental consequences, particularly where settlements emerge on waterways and other environmentally sensitive locations.

It, therefore, argued that addressing the root causes of housing insecurity through effective tenancy regulation and affordable housing policies would be more sustainable than relying solely on demolitions and evictions.

The organisation described the establishment of a responsive legal framework as an important component of the broader struggle for housing justice, saying residents should be able to access decent and secure accommodation without being subjected to unreasonable charges or exploitative tenancy practices.

S4C consequently called on the Abia State Governor to assent to the Abia State Property and Tenancy Regulatory Authority Bill 2026 without delay, stressing that the legislation would only become effective after receiving the required executive assent.

The organisation also appealed to other state governments across Nigeria to adopt similar measures aimed at protecting tenants, regulating property transactions and improving access to affordable housing.

It particularly called on the Lagos State Government to revive and advance its stalled tenancy reform efforts, arguing that residents in other major cities should equally benefit from a fair, transparent and properly regulated housing system.

S4C maintained that effective tenancy regulation should balance the interests of landlords and tenants while ensuring that the housing market does not become a platform for exploitation.

The organisation expressed optimism that the proposed Abia framework, if properly implemented, could serve as a model for other states seeking to reform their housing and tenancy sectors.

It urged stakeholders, including government authorities, landlords, tenants, property developers and housing agents, to support reforms that would promote transparency, accountability, affordability and security of tenure.

The organisation reiterated that access to decent housing is central to the well-being and dignity of citizens and that government policies should seek to make urban housing more accessible to ordinary Nigerians.