THE House of Representatives has introduced the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Bill, 2026, seeking to address rising accommodation costs and strengthen protections for tenants in Abuja.
The bill, sponsored by the lawmakers representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency and Bindawa/Mani Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Paul Nnamchi and Ahmed Doro, respectively, on Thursday seeks to regulate rent payments, curb arbitrary rent increases and establish mechanisms through which tenants can seek redress when landlords violate prescribed rental rules.
The bill comes amid growing concerns over the cost of accommodation in the FCT, where tenants frequently face demands for one or two years’ rent upfront, placing considerable pressure on households already struggling with the cost of living.
One of the proposed measures would prohibit landlords, property managers and estate agents from demanding more than 12 months’ rent as a condition for granting or renewing a tenancy.
The bill also seeks to prevent landlords and their agents from circumventing the proposed restriction through compulsory service charges, separate agreements, artificial tenancy renewals or other arrangements designed to compel tenants to pay more than the permitted advance rent.
However, tenants would be allowed to voluntarily pay for a period exceeding 12 months if they initiated the arrangement without coercion, threats, discrimination or retaliation, provided the agreement and payment were documented in writing.
The proposal also provides for written tenancy agreements before or at the commencement of a tenancy. Such agreements would specify the rent payable, payment schedule, duration of the tenancy, refundable deposits, additional charges and the respective rights and obligations of landlords and tenants.
The bill seeks to establish the Federal Capital Territory Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Authority to monitor compliance, investigate complaints and facilitate the resolution of landlord-tenant disputes.
The proposed authority would also have the power to order refunds of unlawful rental payments. Where a tenant has paid rent in violation of the proposed law, the authority could direct a refund within 30 days of serving the relevant order.
If enacted, the legislation would provide tenants with a more structured avenue to challenge unlawful rental demands instead of relying solely on negotiations with landlords or pursuing disputes through the courts.
For many residents of Abuja, the proposed law could provide relief from the pressure of raising large sums of money before securing or retaining accommodation.
The ICIR reports that rent has remained a huge challenge for residents of the FCT where many people battle with homelessness.
The city is responsible for, at least, 10 per cent of the housing deficit in the country, which stands at 17 million, with the likelihood of the figure increasing to 22 million by 2030, according to experts.
The high cost of rent is a factor in the housing deficit in Abuja, which has left many houses in the city unoccupied, with many residents living in slums, or worse, homeless.
These empty houses can be found littering the highbrow areas of the city, priced beyond the reach of average residents, and rotting away in large quantities.
The latest bill follows years of concerns over rising rents in the FCT and calls for stronger government intervention in the rental market.
In October 2025, the House of Representatives adopted a motion urging the Federal Government to work with state governments to regulate rent increases and consider capping annual increases at no more than 20 per cent of existing rent.
The motion, sponsored by Bassey Akiba, highlighted sharp rent increases in areas benefiting from public infrastructure, including roads and other amenities.
Housing advocates have also called for a more comprehensive tenancy framework for Abuja, arguing that existing rules focused on recovering possession of rented premises do not adequately address wider issues such as rent-setting, advance payments and accessible dispute resolution.
A September 2026 policy brief by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung and HipCity Innovation Centre identified the absence of a comprehensive tenancy framework in the FCT as a regulatory gap contributing to excessive advance rent demands, exploitative practices and limited access to affordable dispute resolution.
The proposed legislation therefore represents a further attempt to establish clearer rules governing the relationship between landlords and tenants in the nation’s capital.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.
This is a welcome development, but as with many initiatives in Nigeria, two critical questions remain: how quickly will the bill be passed, and how effective will the regulatory agency be once it is established?
With every Tom, Dick, and Harry now parading themselves as real estate agents, it is hardly surprising that the housing sector, particularly in Abuja and Lagos, has deteriorated into a marketplace driven by the desire for quick profits at the expense of professionalism and ethical standards.
The trend began with exorbitant viewing fees, demands for two years’ rent upfront, questionable service charges, and a host of other exploitative practices. Unfortunately, these have become commonplace, leaving many prospective tenants at the mercy of unprofessional and greedy individuals who exploit the desperation of people seeking accommodation.
In my view, real estate agency should be recognised and regulated as a licensed profession, given its direct impact on the socio-economic development of the country. Proper licensing, professional standards, and effective enforcement would go a long way towards sanitising the sector, protecting tenants and property owners, and restoring public confidence in the real estate market.
The bill should also include provisions to prevent arbitrary and unjustified increases in rent, thereby protecting tenants from excessive rental charges.
Thank you.
If signed into law, the heydays of landlords imposing harsh tenancy obligations and truancy of illegal agents parading themselves in the City’s capital shall be over.
Thanks to Prof. Paul Nnamchi and his Kastina colleague who pushed for this.
Thanks you ICIR , people are beginning to move and Live outside Abuja already.