ASABA/Nigeria: In a major stride toward housing reform, the Delta State House of Assembly on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, passed the Delta State Landlord and Tenant Bill, 2025 (HB.36) through its second reading, drawing unanimous support and praise from lawmakers across party lines.
The bill, sponsored by the Leader of the House, Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi, Ph.D., has been described as one of the most popular and people-oriented pieces of legislation ever presented before the 8th Assembly. It seeks to establish a fair and transparent legal framework to guide relationships between landlords, tenants, and agents across the state.
The debate on the floor of the House was one of the most engaging in recent times, with nearly all members commending the sponsor for responding to the cries of Deltans struggling under rising rents and unregulated property practices. Many lawmakers said they were acting on the direct mandate of their constituents to support the bill, especially given the escalating housing costs in urban centers like Asaba, Warri, Sapele, and Ughelli.
Under the proposed law, landlords will no longer be allowed to increase rent by more than 50 percent, and such increments can only occur once every three years. The bill also caps agency commissions at five percent of the total rent sum, and mandates that property agents act strictly within the authorization of landlords, a move designed to eliminate fraudulent and exploitative practices.
Speaker Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, who presided over the plenary, noted the overwhelming public interest in the bill, commending lawmakers for their unity on a matter of social justice. He described the proposed law as a major step toward protecting tenants while also ensuring that landlords operate under fair and clear rules.
Following the robust debate, the bill was referred to the House Joint Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Humanitarian Support Services, and Urban Renewal for further legislative work and stakeholder engagement. The committee is expected to present its report later this month.
The Delta State Landlord and Tenant Bill, once passed into law, is expected to bring relief to thousands of low- and middle-income earners across the state who have long endured arbitrary rent hikes and sharp practices in the housing market.
