The House of Representatives has passed the FCT rent bill at second reading. It would limit advance rent to 12 months, prohibit compulsory multi-year demands, and create a regulatory authority for rental transactions in the territory.
It is still not law. But the numbers are now on the record, and they are firmer than they were this morning.
What the bill proposes
| Provision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Advance rent | Limited to 12 months |
| Multi-year demands | Prohibited where compulsory |
| Agency fees | Regulated, with reasonable limits |
| Eviction | Protection against unlawful eviction |
| Regulator | A regulatory authority to oversee rental transactions |
| Agent identification | A unified platform for identifying housing agents |
| Corporate fines | Up to ₦20 million |
| Individual fines | ₦500,000 to ₦5 million for breaching the advance-rent limit |
| Sponsor | Rep. Paul Nnamchi, Enugu East/Isi-Uzo |
A correction to what we published this morning
Our earlier report on this bill noted that the 12-month cap had not been restated in the first account of the debate, and treated it as a proposal rather than a provision. A second report of the same plenary confirms the figure explicitly: the bill seeks to limit advance rent demands to 12 months, with the ₦500,000–5 million individual penalty range attached to breaching it.
The cap is in the bill. Our caveat was too cautious, and we would rather say so than leave a doubt standing that no longer exists.
What has changed since October
When this bill was first reported, it appeared to be about advance periods and fines. The version debated this week is considerably wider:
A regulatory authority. The most significant addition. A body that oversees rental transactions is a permanent institution, not a one-off rule – and institutions outlast the ministers who create them.
Unlawful eviction protection. A separate wrong from overcharging, and until now entirely absent from the FCT proposal.
A prohibition, not just a limit. Capping advances at 12 months and prohibiting compulsory multi-year demands are different instruments. The first sets a ceiling; the second makes a two-year demand unlawful even if the tenant could afford it.
The objection is constitutional, not commercial
The disagreement in the chamber was reported as some lawmakers questioning the constitutionality of restricting landlords’ property rights and freedom of trade.
That is a serious argument, and it is the one most likely to decide the bill’s fate. Nigerian land is vested in state governors and property rights are constitutionally protected; a federal cap on private rent raises a genuine question about legislative competence, separate from whether the policy is wise.
The sponsor’s answer was framed carefully: “Landlords deserve reasonable returns. Agents deserve professional recognition. And tenants deserve fairness and protection from exploitation.” He also asked that the bill proceed to committee for detailed consideration and stakeholder engagement – which is where that constitutional question will be argued properly.
Why this matters beyond Abuja
Tenancy law is state law, so an FCT act binds only the territory. But a federal regulator for rentals in the capital sets a template. Enugu is separately capping agency and legal fees. If the FCT builds an authority that works, other states will be asked why they have not.
And for tenants, the 12-month limit is the provision with immediate practical force: in a market where two years upfront is standard in Abuja, a 12-month ceiling halves the cash a tenant must find before moving.
What happens next
Committee stage. The bill goes to the relevant committee for detailed consideration. This is where the 12-month figure, the regulator’s powers and the penalty structure will be tested – and where it can be amended downward or stripped.
Third reading, then assent. A bill at second reading has cleared a debate on principle. Many Nigerian bills stop here. Nothing is enforceable until a third reading is recorded and the President assents.
What a tenant in Abuja should do now
Nothing changes this week. A landlord asking for two years upfront is still acting lawfully. Do not refuse on the strength of a bill at second reading.
Do not sign a multi-year agreement assuming relief. Even if this passes, it will not unwind agreements already signed.
Put a rent review clause in writing. The bill regulates agency fees and advance periods, not the annual increase – a written review clause protects you on the thing the bill does not cover.
Keep receipts for every fee. If a regulator arrives with a complaints route, documented overcharging becomes a claim.
What is not established
The bill’s full text has not been published. The 12-month cap and the penalty ranges are reported consistently across two outlets, but the definition of “compulsory multi-year demand”, the regulator’s enforcement powers, and the transition arrangements for existing tenancies are all unstated.
No committee timetable and no date for third reading have been set.
Frequently asked questions
Has the FCT rent bill passed?
It has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. It is not law. Committee stage, third reading and presidential assent remain.
Is the 12-month rent cap law yet?
No – but it is in the bill. The bill would limit advance rent demands to 12 months; nothing is enforceable until it becomes an Act.
What are the penalties?
Up to ₦20 million for corporate offenders, and ₦500,000 to ₦5 million for individuals breaching the advance-rent restriction.
Will it affect rents in Lagos or Enugu?
No. It is an FCT bill and tenancy law is state law. Enugu is legislating separately on agency and legal fees.
Why are some lawmakers opposed?
They question whether restricting landlords’ property rights and freedom of trade is constitutional – a legal objection, not only a commercial one.
Last updated: 4 November 2026, revised after a second report of the same plenary confirmed the 12-month cap. The 12-month limit, prohibition of compulsory multi-year demands, agency-fee regulation, unlawful eviction protection, regulatory authority, agent platform, ₦20 million corporate and ₦500,000–5 million individual penalties, the sponsor’s constituency and the constitutional objection are from Punch’s report of 4 November 2026. The second reading, the sponsor’s remarks and the referral to committee are corroborated by Vanguard’s report of the same date. No bill text has been published. Not legal advice.
