The undue attachment of Nigerians to the land and landed property so much attention and superiority are added to the status of a landlord which has made it up for the ill-treatment the so-called landlords do meet out to their often poor tenants. The Nigerian law is all-encompassing and people-welfare oriented. The law went on to offer an avalanche of rights, duties, and privileges for tenants. This article is set to outline and dwell on the details of the rights, duties, privileges, powers, and remedies open to tenants in Nigeria.

In Nigeria, a tenant is declared a lesser human being against the wishes of the constitution as many times as his/her rights are trampled on. The law will always lean in favour of a tenant and to safeguard him properly while he strives to acquire his own premises. You may be the owner of your residence while you are a tenant in your office complex. There can never be a tenant without a landlord.

These are some of the Tenants rights open in Nigeria

Right to Sue Landlord for Trespass: A tenant has the right to sue a landlord who pays deaf ears to the provisions of the law and goes on to throw him out. The above-detailed rules are not mere academic literature rather valid and subsisting procedure for the eviction of tenants in any part of Nigeria. Once a tenant is in the occupation of premises then he has all rights over the premises and the law will not allow his landlord to trespass against such.

The court will not hesitate to slam the hammer on a landlord that throws the laws to the winds. Let a tenant seek remedy in court by consulting a lawyer. He should equally complain to the Nigerian Police of such trespass, to investigate such and prosecute the landlord for criminal trespass. All persons are equal before the law and a landlord is not in any degree a master or lord unto his tenant; not a “tenant-lord”.

Right to Peaceful Enjoyment of Property: The tenant pays his rent to his landlord for the landlord to grant him a peaceful and serene enjoyment of the landlord’s property within an agreed period to the exclusion of all other persons; the landlord inclusive. No tenant pays to be offered an uninhabitable apartment, dilapidated property, unsecured environment or a contentious accommodation. Once payment is made and tenancy commences the tenant has both legal and fair rights over the said property.

Right to a Valid Notice to Quit: The legislatures in consideration of our conservative Land Use Act have enacted a series of tenant-friendly Acts and laws. A tenant cannot be thrown out of his apartment unless there is a strict compliance by his landlord with of relevant Recovery of Premises Law. Recovery of Premises Law provides that a valid “Notice to Quit” (Quit Notice) of a landlord’s intention to terminate/quit the tenancy of the tenant must be written and served on the tenant.

Right to a Compulsory Seven (7) Days Notice to Recover Premises: The “Seven (7) days Notice of Owner’s Intention to Recover Premises” is a notice from a landlord’s lawyer notifying a tenant upon whom a “notice to quit” had been served and same had expired; that the lawyer will after seven (7) days from the date of the service of the Notice proceed to court to recover the overhead premises on behalf of the landlord. And much more https://www.townplannersdiary.com/tenants-rights-nigerian-law-know/

Nice post. The average Nigerian doesn't know his/her rights especially in tenant-landlord situations. My landlord those days hear am for my hand.....How could someone issue 3 months quit notice to a yearly tenant instead of six?! You will hardly see him when amenities break down, but once his rent was due, na to dey call from abroad dey hala for phone.. He was always changing caretaker and security like menstrual pad. Most of them hate court especially when you know your right. GOOD ONES DEY SHA. Thank God i don pass that level.

Hmmm....educative...

I sanction and propose for the front page...

A tenants that is owing for more than a year and refusing to vacate premise should he also be serve additional 6months plus 7 days notices.... Who pays for such and how possible is it for landlord to recover such premise plus the outstanding debt including the months spent in court ....


In short...
Who pays for such months of notices and court duration which we all know may take more than 4 years to get judgment under over present onoghen justices all over nigeria

The Nigerian law is all-encompassing and people-welfare oriented. The law went on to offer an avalanche of rights, duties, and privileges for tenants. This article is set to outline and dwell on the details of the rights, duties, privileges, powers, and remedies open to tenants in Nigeria.

REDshouse:
A tenants that is owing for more than a year and refusing to vacate premise should he also be serve additional 6months plus 7 days notices.... Who pays for such and how possible is it for landlord to recover such premise plus the outstanding debt including the months spent in court ....


In short...
Who pays for such months of notices and court duration which we all know may take more than 4 years to get judgment under over present onoghen justices all over nigeria