By Mokobia Rita.
ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State House of Assembly has advanced the proposed Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill, 2026, giving further legislative attention to the regulation of landlord-tenant relationships and the recovery of rented properties across the state.
The Bill scaled second reading during Tuesday’s plenary, with lawmakers examining the need for a more contemporary legal framework to address disputes arising from tenancy agreements, rent payments, property recovery and the conduct of agents in the housing market.
Leading the debate, the House Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, said the proposed legislation was intended to promote greater order, transparency and accountability in tenancy transactions while providing clearer protections for both property owners and tenants.
Nwaobi urged his colleagues to support the Bill, arguing that the state required a legal framework capable of responding to present-day realities in the housing sector and reducing practices that often leave either landlords or tenants exposed to abuse.
The measure subsequently passed second reading through a unanimous voice vote, after which further consideration was deferred to a subsequent sitting.
The latest legislative step comes after the Assembly reintroduced the tenancy legislation in September following amendments to an earlier version. The reintroduced Bill is intended to replace the state’s existing Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Law of 1977, which has governed tenancy and recovery-of-premises matters for decades. Asaba Metro News
The proposed reform is also coming against the backdrop of longstanding complaints over rising rents, multiple charges associated with securing accommodation and disputes between landlords, tenants and property agents, particularly in fast-growing urban centres.
Beyond the question of rent, the legislation is expected to provide clearer procedures for the recovery of premises and define the respective obligations of landlords, tenants and other participants in tenancy transactions.
The Assembly had previously subjected the broader tenancy reform to stakeholder scrutiny, including a public hearing involving landlords, tenants, estate professionals, government representatives and other interested groups. Your City News
With the Bill now having crossed another legislative hurdle, its eventual passage and implementation will depend on the remaining stages of consideration by the House.
