House of Representatives considers bill to limit Abuja house rent advance

The House of Representatives has begun consideration of a new bill seeking to regulate advance rent payments and protect tenants from unlawful rental practices. The Federal Capital Territory Advance Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Bill, 2026 (HB.2839) was jointly sponsored by Paul Nnamchi and Ahmed Doro, and it passed its first reading on Thursday, 22 October.

Section 4(1) of the bill states that a landlord, estate agent or property manager shall not demand, receive or compel a tenant to pay more than twelve months’ rent in advance as a condition for granting, renewing or continuing a tenancy. This means a landlord would still be able to collect one year’s rent in advance if that is the agreed arrangement, but demanding two or three years upfront would become an offence if the bill becomes law. Section 4(4) states that a tenant may voluntarily pay more than twelve months’ rent in advance if the tenant initiates the offer and the payment is not imposed by the landlord.

Regulation and Enforcement

Under Section 8, the bill proposes the establishment of the Federal Capital Territory Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Authority to receive and investigate complaints, monitor landlords, and order refunds. Section 7 introduces a mechanism where a tenant who has paid rent in violation of the 12-month limit could apply to the authority for a refund order, which must be paid within thirty days. A person convicted of knowingly demanding or receiving unlawful advance rent would face a fine of between ₦500,000 and ₦5 million, while a corporate body could face a fine of between ₦5 million and ₦20 million.

The bill also requires landlords or their authorised agents to provide written tenancy agreements and disclose the nature and amount of compulsory fees before a conclusion is reached. It prohibits retaliation against tenants who refuse to make unlawful payments, and it bans unlawful self-help practices such as violence, threats, disconnecting essential services, or changing locks without lawful authority. Having passed its first reading, the bill is still at an early stage of the legislative process and will proceed to a second reading for debate.