ABIA STATE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS BILL, 2025 Past First Reading.

The member representing Ohafia North States Constituency, RT Hon Mandela Obasi on Tuesday, 7th October,2025 at the Floor of the House of Assembly moved a Bill for a law to make provision for the Regulations of Tenancy and Landlords Relationship and other matters Incidental thereto otherwise known as the The Abia State Landlords and Tenants Bill, 2025. The Merits of the Bill. The Bill which is geared towards ameliorating the suffering of Abian’s as Housing is the major challenge of many. The merits as presented.

1) The challenges of Abia Tenants and landlords is worrisome as the existing Laws creates lacuna for abuse of Tenancy agreements and unreasonable increment of rents which has put many into undue suffering

2) Over 90% of Abian’s are Tenants and many living under global poverty level. House Rents is a big challenge .

This Bill is a big step toward fairness, transparency, and modern housing regulation in Abia

3) The Abia State Landlords and Tenants Bill 2025 is here to reform housing laws and protect both Tenants and landlords.

4) Unfair Rent increment has become a pressing challenge where landlords increase rent at unreasonable rates. The Bill seeks to also control this activity.

5)The Bill seeks to protect property owners from Bad Tenants and help in the recovery of properties.

6) The Bills also seeks to regulate the activities of House and properties Agents Here’s a quick breakdown of the major changes from existing laws.

🔹 Agent Regulation – All agents must register with the Ministry of Housing Abia State.Collecting rents from multiple Tenants for one property is now a criminal offence and punishable. The maximum agent fee: 5%.

🔹 Rent Advance –It shall be unlawful for Landlords to demand Rent in excess of six(6) months or Tenants to pay rents in excess of six(6). Violations attract fines or jail time.

🔹 Agreement Fees/ Professional Fess. It shall be the duty of the party who engages the services of a professional in respect of the tenancy agreement to pay the fees for such professional services.

🔹 Faster Evictions – The Bill also makes the progress of properties recovery easier for the landlord in the face of a bad Tenant.

🔹 Court Requirements – Tenants must show proof of rent and utility payment to file or appeal cases.

🔹 Challenge Unfair Rent Increasment – Tenants can challenge landlords on over unreasonable rent hikes, and can’t be evicted while the case is ongoing in court.

The Bill is coming against the backdrop of plethora of challenges faced by Tenants and Landlords in most cases. Unreasonable increment of rent and other avoidable bills makes rent payment very cumbersome to many Tenants even in the face of the harsh economy.

The speaker of the House and one of the Co-sponsors, RT Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa thanked RT. Hon Mandela Obasi for the people-oriented Bill as it promotes modern housing regulations to spur development. He also lamented at the challenges of Housing as the House harmoniously past the Bill in the first Reading.

©Dimgba Ejieke

Legislative Assistant to RT Hon Mandela Obasi.