The House of Representatives has introduced the Federal Capital Territory Rent Regulation and Tenants’ Protection Bill, 2026, seeking to regulate rent payments, curb arbitrary increases and strengthen legal protections for tenants in Abuja.
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The proposed legislation comes amid growing concerns over the cost of accommodation in the Federal Capital Territory, where many tenants are required to pay one or two years’ rent in advance despite increasing pressure on household incomes.
Under the proposed framework, landlords would be prohibited from demanding more than three months’ rent in advance from new tenants, after which rent payments would move to a monthly basis.
The bill also seeks to regulate annual rent increases by placing limits on arbitrary or excessive increments, particularly in areas where rents rise sharply following public infrastructure developments.
Beyond rent payments, the proposed legislation would create a legal avenue through which tenants can challenge landlords who demand payments above the prescribed limit or impose arbitrary rent increases.
It also seeks to prohibit landlords from resorting to self-help methods to remove tenants from rented premises without following the appropriate legal process.
Such prohibited practices would include cutting off electricity, removing roofs, blocking access to premises or deploying other measures intended to force tenants out without obtaining lawful possession through due process.
The proposed legislation is part of renewed efforts within the National Assembly to address longstanding concerns surrounding tenancy regulation and housing affordability in the FCT.
The House had previously raised concerns over sharp rent increases in Abuja following the provision of public infrastructure. In an earlier legislative intervention, lawmakers considered proposals aimed at protecting tenants against excessive increases in areas benefiting from new roads, markets and other public amenities.
The latest House initiative also comes months after a similar legislative move in the Senate.
On July 8, 2026, the Senate introduced the Federal Capital Territory Rent Regulation, Tenancy and Housing Stability Bill, 2026, which was taken for First Reading.
The Senate bill is sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who said the legislation was intended to strengthen the FCT’s housing framework and promote greater certainty, fairness and stability in the rental housing sector.
Ekpenyong had argued that properly regulated housing markets are important to economic growth, social stability and the protection of the interests of both landlords and tenants.
He also expressed hope that reforms developed for the Federal Capital Territory could ultimately provide a model for similar tenancy reforms across the federation.
The latest House bill similarly focuses on reducing the financial burden associated with advance rent payments while creating stronger safeguards against arbitrary landlord practices.
The legislative proposals come against the backdrop of what housing-policy advocates have described as a regulatory gap in Abuja. A recent policy review noted that the FCT currently lacks a comprehensive tenancy framework dealing with issues such as rent-setting, tenant protection and accessible dispute resolution, with existing rules largely focused on recovery of premises.
If passed through the required legislative stages and enacted, the House bill would significantly alter the prevailing practice in Abuja under which tenants are frequently required to raise substantial sums for annual or multi-year advance rent payments.
The bill would instead establish a three-month ceiling for initial advance rent payments, followed by monthly payments, while creating mechanisms for tenants to challenge unlawful rent demands and protecting occupants against eviction without due process.
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