calitobrigonte:


Let me b concise. My rent expired last month. I went to move my things on Sunday evening (2 days ago) but I met the chain and padlock dat u see in d pix. All I owe is about 6k 4 electricity bill. Is it proper 4 her 2 lock d apartment? What should I do?

Note that she didn't give any eviction notice!

So you left your junk for 1 month without paying? Can you imagine? I would be furious if I was a landlord and you took off for 1 moth with your property in my place. I can't rent it out. You're lucky your property did not grow legs and walk...
She's right to lock it up. You wanted to leave her with the unpaid bills too abi?

nigerianngo:
Your rent expired on the 31st of May.
You went to pick your things the 26th of June.

Between the 31st of May and the 26th of June, the house no longer belonged to you. So, Yes, she is right to lock the apartment. What if she had another tenant that was to move into that apartment by the 1st of June?

You should have made an agreement with your landlord that you would be coming later (26th of June) to pick your things.

Solution: speak with your landlord and let her know why you did not completely pack out on the 31st of May. If your reasons are good, I'm sure she will understand.

stop spreading rumors! please be enlightened. Google tenancy at sufferance.

I think you deliberately left out some part of the story to suit yourself.

While the landlord is wrong, did he/she never call you? If yes, what was your response?

You plan to pay what you owe? Why didn't you start paying ur own when you got in an tell him about the previous debt.

I think you wanna be like the former tenant who didn't pay before moving.

Go see your landlord and stop crying fowl.

You wanna play on her and that's not fair

calitobrigonte:


Let me b concise. My rent expired last month. I went to move my things on Sunday evening (2 days ago) but I met the chain and padlock dat u see in d pix. All I owe is about 6k 4 electricity bill. Is it proper 4 her 2 lock d apartment? What should I do?

Note that she didn't give any eviction notice!

The fact your rent expired does other warrant that constructive eviction. As it is, you are entitled to 7 seven days notice of owners intention to possess. Thereafter a writ of eviction filed, served on you and argued in court before you can be evicted by the court. You can dismantle that lock and access your house when you remain a statutory tenant until lawfully evicted. You can also go to court seek injunction restraining the landlord from unlawfully evicting you. Your lawyer should also seek declaration that you are entitled to requisite notice before eviction and the fact that such a lockout was a continuing breach of your rights to peaceful accommodation.

While at it, you should also pay in the outstanding bill into the court.

Be certain to protect yourself and additionally get the police involved by claiming threat to life. That way your landlord will be made to sign that he will be of good behaviour and will not take steps that will jeopardise your life.

Finally, be ready to move and make arrangements to procure alternative accommodation as you can no longer stay there after all these.

Alternatively, go and beg your landlord and pay him/her.

By law, she can not eject you without a valid order from the rent tribunal.

Until that happens, she can't lock you out or padlock your gate as you are still the legally recognized owner of the house.

You can break the locks and move your things and she will not have any legal cause of action, but she might want to start a physical altercation if she walks in before you finish moving your things or if someone informs her and she comes around.

Right now, she is in violation of the law by locking you out without due process of the law and she is also causing you undue hardship by denying you access to you properties, look for a charge and bail lawyer, put small something in their pocket and they will write her a strongly worded letter to give you access to the house within 48hrs, else she will be sued and if she refuses, sue her and bring her to court and make sure you ask for damages and award.

You will end up not paying the light bill or June and July rent, and in addition to that, she will end up paying you to kill the case.

BTW: You are in the wrong for not taking care of your responsibilities, but the Landlord should have followed the right legal process...two wrongs does make it right.

calitobrigonte:
My rent expired on the 31st of May 2016. I have been away for sometime. So I went to move my things on the 26th of June 2016. I met a chain and padlock at my apartment. She hasn't given me an eviction notice! Honestly, I have not paid the electricity bills for about 4-5 months because there was an outstanding debt of 25k on the meter accrued by the last tenant, which the power company insisted must be cleared first. I plan to give her what I owe! Is she right to lock the apartment? What course of redress should I take? Pls if u must insult or call me names, make sure you also give a constructive advice. Thank you.

In as much as u have a case against her, I advocate for arbitration..... Go and negotiate with her. Its cheaper, less tedious and faster.

I read some of the comments here and they are off the point or at best moral advice which is different from the position of our laws.

You did not tell us your location but let me assume that you are in Lagos. Your remedy is already captured by the Tenancy law which placed a fine of N250k or three months imprisonment on any landlord that uses self-help in ejecting his/her tenant.

If you have the money and the time, file a criminal complaint at the nearest police station for it to be taken up from there.

Your landlady should have served you six months notice and after its expiration, give you 7 days owner's intention to apply to recover possession. Then if you still refuse or ignore to give possession, she can then approach court to get a valid order to eject you. We should stop celebrating illegality on the alter of sentiment, whatever you permit will increase.

Kindly take note also that you will also pay for every other days you stay in the house after 31st of May and also pay for all the utility bills.

One woman tried this with one of my clients, she will never try it again in her life after I was through with her.

guy go pay.

calitobrigonte:


Let me b concise. My rent expired last month. I went to move my things on Sunday evening (2 days ago) but I met the chain and padlock dat u see in d pix. All I owe is about 6k 4 electricity bill. Is it proper 4 her 2 lock d apartment? What should I do?

Note that she didn't give any eviction notice!

I think you are evil..your rent expired may and you went to pack your thinks by 26th of June..all you culd remember is that your only owing 6k which is electric bill...

What happen to the rent from 1st June till date?...

from your post, if the landlord did lock up the place you culd Hv run without paying...

But if you were a gud person,you culd Hv gone to landlord pay your bill from 1st June till d day u will move ur last tin plus your own outstanding electric bill...

But you being evil,choose to secretly move your things without, paying What you owe,but on landlord seeing that he lock the place...Jst as the landlord had lock up the place u suddenly remember your owing electric bill and 4gt your also owing rent from 1st June till the day you move your last pin...

The mind of men are evil...now rather than you go to landlord and clear your bills both electric n your rent,your here claiming who is right or who is wrong...

Were you right wen u plan to secretly move ur tins,without clearing ur electric bills n rent...

Bros I will advice you to do the right tin,take the receipt of all your rent plus all you owe go to the landlords how,also go with the 1st ever electric bill you came to see...sit down with landlord explain and pay all you owe and move out....stop looking for who is right or wrong..Cuz you ur self is Nt Evn right....

Wen Ppl walk on the road or cnt prosper,they forget What they did wrong in the past...
Stay bless

calitobrigonte:


Let me b concise. My rent expired last month. I went to move my things on Sunday evening (2 days ago) but I met the chain and padlock dat u see in d pix. All I owe is about 6k 4 electricity bill. Is it proper 4 her 2 lock d apartment? What should I do?

Note that she didn't give any eviction notice!

Do landlords give eviction notice whenever a tenants rent expires? Did u communicate with her when or before ur rent expired that you will be moving? So are u saying u came with the 6k light bill on that day u came to move? Mind u 6k in a lot of money!
Guy, I think you are a shady person. I support ur landlady for her move!

vickylala239:


I think you are evil..your rent expired may and you went to pack your thinks by 26th of June..all you culd remember is that your only owing 6k which is electric bill...

What happen to the rent from 1st June till date?...

from your post, if the landlord did lock up the place you culd Hv run without paying...

But if you were a gud person,you culd Hv gone to landlord pay your bill from 1st June till d day u will move ur last tin plus your own outstanding electric bill...

But you being evil,choose to secretly move your things without, paying What you owe,but on landlord seeing that he lock the place...Jst as the landlord had lock up the place u suddenly remember your owing electric bill and 4gt your also owing rent from 1st June till the day you move your last pin...

The mind of men are evil...now rather than you go to landlord and clear your bills both electric n your rent,your here claiming who is right or who is wrong...

Were you right wen u plan to secretly move ur tins,without clearing ur electric bills n rent...

Bros I will advice you to do the right tin,take the receipt of all your rent plus all you owe go to the landlords how,also go with the 1st ever electric bill you came to see...sit down with landlord explain and pay all you owe and move out....stop looking for who is right or wrong..Cuz you ur self is Nt Evn right....

Wen Ppl walk on the road or cnt prosper,they forget What they did wrong in the pass....

Stay bless

He did not even need to pay d june outstanding rent if he had gone n explained things to the landlady. Am sure she would av understood. I think d dude is not a straight forward person.

thunder74:
I read some of the comments here and they are off the point or at best moral advice which is different from the position of our laws.
You did not tell us your location but let me assume that you are in Lagos. Your remedy is already captured by the Tenancy law which placed a fine of N250k or three months imprisonment on any landlord that uses self-help in ejecting his/her tenant.
If you have the money and the time, file a criminal complaint in the nearest police station for it to be taken up from there.

See Hw evil men minds are...rather than tell him to go pay his rent from 1st June till d date he move his last pin n the rent he is actually owing.. and Hv an understanding with landlord...your advising him to use that money and get a lawyer...wen you knw the money shuld Hv been use to pay his debt..

You knw lawyers in Nigeria they will drag d case for years,while he keep paying transport n appearance fee,filing fees all sort of rubbish....

See your life

Guy go check well u dae owe am

vickylala239:



See Hw evil men minds are...rather than tell him to go pay his rent from 1st June till d date he move his last pin n the rent he is actually owing.. and Hv an understanding with landlord...your advising him to use that money and get a lawyer...wen you knw the money shuld Hv been use to pay his debt..

You knw lawyers in Nigeria they will drag d case for years,while he keep paying transport n appearance fee,filing fees all sort of rubbish....

See your life

I only offered pro bono professional advise. I was not advising him as his pastor ma. Check my signature.

tonio2wo:

He did not even need to pay d june outstanding rent if he had gone n explained things to the landlady. Am sure she would av understood. I think d dude is not a straight forward person.

For him to pay or not cn only be determine by the landlord.... Cuz he shuld admit he is owing

You travel or you Dnt travel is of no excuse,Evn if you rent and Dnt use the house from day one is no excuse....

Hope you also knw Dat sum of this landlord use the last money to build after being sack by their employer and feed,school fees from this..

I Dnt blame some of them but the tenant..

thunder74:

I only offered pro bono professional advise. I was not advising him as his pastor ma. Check my signature.

I Hv checked your signature...Plz Wat is it abt it?

you shuld Hv advice him better,rather than digging pit for him to enter

calitobrigonte:
My rent expired on the 31st of May 2016. I have been away for sometime. So I went to move my things on the 26th of June 2016. I met a chain and padlock at my apartment. She hasn't given me an eviction notice! Honestly, I have not paid the electricity bills for about 4-5 months because there was an outstanding debt of 25k on the meter accrued by the last tenant, which the power company insisted must be cleared first. I plan to give her what I owe! Is she right to lock the apartment? What course of redress should I take? Pls if u must insult or call me names, make sure you also give a constructive advice. Thank you.

She is wrong to use self help to recover possession, if she wants to eject u she has to follow the law.

Since u really intend to move out, break dt lock and gain possession dt house still technically belongs to u until ejected even if u r owing. After that maintain u didn't kw its ur landlady dt locked it since she never informed u anyway. Nothing will happen and from there u guys will make little trouble n then settle things

If anybody locks my house while I am away I will break it once I am arnd immediately n face d result infact I will maintain I think it's thieves dt wants to steal my properties.

Op dnt b a coward act nw n dnt allow dt illiterate woman to maltreat u. Break d rubbish lock its jst common sense Yes u r wrong to owe electric bill n one month rent but she is wrong to lock ur houz absolutely.

Is like some landlords dt will remove d roof of ur house for owing dt is self help n d law does nt accommodate it

All d comments I read r jst sentimental.

you know, no landlord will just lock up your room for no reason, possibly you've been owing him, and judging by the present state of the nation, no one takes it likely, when money is involved.

im a lawyer.yes ordinarily yo are entitled to a notice,at worst 7days notice since your tenancy is for a fixed period and has expired by effuxion of time.but the fact that on the day your rent expires you are nowhere to be found and you did not engage the landlord as to your next plan before your rent expires leaving the landlord in the dark.in my opinion ,which you will later pay me for,she is entilted to lock your apartment since you owe some bills and she doesnt want a situation where u sneaked in and pack out your things behind her back.all the same report to the police to avert breach of peace and both of you make the necessary undertakings.why not come and buy a 700sm im given out for only 10m at rivervalley estate berger so u will never have probs with any landlord again.bless.no fight o.

calitobrigonte:


Let me b concise. My rent expired last month. I went to move my things on Sunday evening (2 days ago) but I met the chain and padlock dat u see in d pix. All I owe is about 6k 4 electricity bill. Is it proper 4 her 2 lock d apartment? What should I do?

Note that she didn't give any eviction notice!

Have you approached your Landlady (I assume), and she refused you access to your apartment?
Again where you trying to move your things without paying your debts? She could be acting based on past experience.

thunder74:

I only offered pro bono professional advise. I was not advising him as his pastor ma. Check my signature.

Is it FREE?

thunder74:
I read some of the comments here and they are off the point or at best moral advice which is different from the position of our laws.

You did not tell us your location but let me assume that you are in Lagos. Your remedy is already captured by the Tenancy law which placed a fine of N250k or three months imprisonment on any landlord that uses self-help in ejecting his/her tenant.

If you have the money and the time, file a criminal complaint at the nearest police station for it to be taken up from there.

Your landlady should have served you six months notice and after its expiration, give you 7 days owner's intention to apply to recover possession. Then if you still refuse or ignore to give possession, she can then approach court to get a valid order to eject you. We should stop celebrate illegality on the alter of sentiment, whatever you permit will increase.

Kindly take note also that you will also pay for every other days you stay in the house after 31st of May and also pay for all the utility bills.

One woman tried this with one of my clients, she will never try it again in her life after I was through with her.

when and if you r able to build a house,so people would try to pack out without paying your bills...instead of u to tell him to dialogue and pay his bills u here talking rubbish...

calitobrigonte:
My rent expired on the 31st of May 2016. I have been away for sometime. So I went to move my things on the 26th of June 2016. I met a chain and padlock at my apartment. She hasn't given me an eviction notice! Honestly, I have not paid the electricity bills for about 4-5 months because there was an outstanding debt of 25k on the meter accrued by the last tenant, which the power company insisted must be cleared first. I plan to give her what I owe! Is she right to lock the apartment? What course of redress should I take? Pls if u must insult or call me names, make sure you also give a constructive advice. Thank you.

It is your fault sir! Why take a house with bill on the meter? I was looking for a house last year, i saw one that fit the bill but the meter was to be shared by 2 houses. There and then, i rejected it because i dint like wahala. You had a choice sir and you went for it.

Besides what steps did you take in order to settle the outstanding bill with the landlord? Then you know fully well the rent expires in may and where did you go month end? Who did you talk to? Did you ask for more time or explain the reason for non payment by May? Please go and relax somewhere. Abi for where you dey work dem never pay you May salary?

that's what u get when old-pretending-young hag happens to be your landlady. so i suggest u break the lock asap and move your tins!!!! like this, i owe my landlord by tomorrow 4months (48k) though hoping to pay by weekend but if he try such, hmmmm, well, he know that the outcome wont favour him!!!!!!

calitobrigonte:


Let me b concise. My rent expired last month. I went to move my things on Sunday evening (2 days ago) but I met the chain and padlock dat u see in d pix. All I owe is about 6k 4 electricity bill. Is it proper 4 her 2 lock d apartment? What should I do?

Note that she didn't give any eviction notice!

mayorkyzo:
when and if you r able to build a house,so people would try to pack out without paying your bills...instead of u to tell him to dialogue and pay his bills u here talking rubbish...

Bros I am a landlord and I relate with them (my tenants) as regulated by our laws.
Don't know why we are afraid of respecting and following our own laws. What I said above is what the law says. The OP asked for advise and I gave him mine and I don't know why mine should give you headache sir?

u r a joker though u aint landlord but what OP should do is to break the lock because landlady has already broken the law without following due process such as applying to competent court, getting a bailiff with a policeman accompanied by official quit notice signed by a margistrate!!!!!

nextstep:


So you left your junk for 1 month without paying? Can you imagine? I would be furious if I was a landlord and you took off for 1 moth with your property in my place. I can't rent it out. You're lucky your property did not grow legs and walk...
She's right to lock it up. You wanted to leave her with the unpaid bills too abi?

thunder74:
I read some of the comments here and they are off the point or at best moral advice which is different from the position of our laws.

You did not tell us your location but let me assume that you are in Lagos. Your remedy is already captured by the Tenancy law which placed a fine of N250k or three months imprisonment on any landlord that uses self-help in ejecting his/her tenant.

If you have the money and the time, file a criminal complaint at the nearest police station for it to be taken up from there.

Your landlady should have served you six months notice and after its expiration, give you 7 days owner's intention to apply to recover possession. Then if you still refuse or ignore to give possession, she can then approach court to get a valid order to eject you. We should stop celebrate illegality on the alter of sentiment, whatever you permit will increase.

Kindly take note also that you will also pay for every other days you stay in the house after 31st of May and also pay for all the utility bills.

One woman tried this with one of my clients, she will never try it again in her life after I was through with her.

From his post, he claims an old bill was owed by the former occupant... what if the house was "subletted" to him and the landlady does not recognise him as her tenant?

veekid:
She must be Yoruba

Hey stop dat ! it could be any tribe d issue here is dat d tenant is trying to act smart...meanwhile he didn't communicate with d landlady...Mr tenant is not fair go am sort out things with ur landlady tomorrow u may become landlord...

calitobrigonte:
My rent expired on the 31st of May 2016. I have been away for sometime. So I went to move my things on the 26th of June 2016. I met a chain and padlock at my apartment. She hasn't given me an eviction notice! Honestly, I have not paid the electricity bills for about 4-5 months because there was an outstanding debt of 25k on the meter accrued by the last tenant, which the power company insisted must be cleared first. I plan to give her what I owe! Is she right to lock the apartment? What course of redress should I take? Pls if u must insult or call me names, make sure you also give a constructive advice. Thank you.

Oga break the padlock open in th presence of neighbours and declare 200k missing, she will beg you...no court order and she locked your apartment..or better if you have money, involve the police and do the above...thank me later

calitobrigonte:


Let me b concise. My rent expired last month. I went to move my things on Sunday evening (2 days ago) but I met the chain and padlock dat u see in d pix. All I owe is about 6k 4 electricity bill. Is it proper 4 her 2 lock d apartment? What should I do?

Note that she didn't give any eviction notice!

As long as your property remained in her home, you are deemed to still be an occupant. It matters not that you were not there physically. As long as she couldn't let others view and sign new lease to move in, then you caused it. You owe her d 6k bill and about 3 weeks or so extra where your load remained in her property. Her house is not a ware house. You should have planned to get your things out if you knew you would be away by the end of your lease. You must make plans Sir. You are in the wrong. Apologise and get into talks with her on where to go from here. Be dipolatic at first before you resort to self help or allow lawyer chop your money. Goodluck

calitobrigonte:


Let me b concise. My rent expired last month. I went to move my things on Sunday evening (2 days ago) but I met the chain and padlock dat u see in d pix. All I owe is about 6k 4 electricity bill. Is it proper 4 her 2 lock d apartment? What should I do?

Note that she didn't give any eviction notice!

According to you, you went there to move ur things on Sunday. That means you had already made up ur mind to move out.
I don't see any big deal in him/her locking the place. Since you know how much you owe him/her, just hand him/her the 6k and the padlock will just finish without you even knowing how it went off.

If you go to the Police or court, you are going to spend more than 6k. Don't be a trouble TENANT so, you don't be a trouble LANDLORD.

specialpolice:
u r a joker though u aint landlord but what OP should do is to break the lock because landlady has already broken the law without following due process such as applying to competent court, getting a bailiff with a policeman accompanied by official quit notice signed by a margistrate!!!!!

And when the tenant disappears without a trace for who-knows-how-long... who do you serve the quit notice? At least now the tenant is forced to say "hello" instead of silently clearing all his things out like the previous guy...