Do You Know Your Duties as a Tenant or Landlord



DUTIES OF LANDLORDS AND TENANTS IN NIGERIA.

Landlords and tenants in a tenancy agreement have various duties to perform. The Lagos state Tenancy Law 2011 has regulated these duties between both parties to make sure these obligations and duties are adhered to.

WHAT ARE THESE DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED BY BOTH PARTIES

1• Tenants have a duty to pay rents at the appropriate time.

2• Landlords have a duty to issue rent payment receipt to their tenants.
They also have a duty not to receive rent in excess of one (1) year from a tenant that pays yearly, and six months for a tenant that pays his rent monthly. Where the tenant is a new tenant, the landlord has a duty not to receive an excess of a year rent.

3• Tenants have a duty to pay for any future rates, service charges and security deposit as agreed with the landlord.

4• Landlords have a duty to issue a separate receipt to the tenant for the payments received, and he must always give a written account to the tenant at least every six months on how the money was spent.

5• Tenants have a duty to keep the premises in a good and habitable condition and to notify the landlord where structural or substantial damage has occurred to any part of the premises.

6• Landlords have a duty to repair within a reasonable time any damage of equipment or any part of the property under his care and maintenance.

7• The tenant has a duty to permit the landlord and his agents during the tenancy at all reasonable hours of the daytime after previous notice, to view the condition of the premises and to carry out repairs in necessary parts of the building.

8• Landlords have a duty not to disturb his tenant’s privacy and exclusive possession of the premises. Where the premise is for business purpose, the landlord has a duty not to do any act that will result in loss of profit for his tenant and also a duty not to obstruct the access of his tenant’s client from the building.

9• Tenants have a duty not to alter or add to the premises without the consent of the landlord; sub-let any part of the premises to another person without the consent of the landlord.