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By Maduka Nweke, [email protected]
Across the country, protracted landlord-tenant rent wars are no longer isolated cases; they are now the new normal, especially as economic pressures cripple citizens’ purchasing power.
According to social scientists and property enthusiasts, this strained relationship highlights the glaring gaps in the country’s real estate regulation.
Despite being one of the economy’s most vibrant sectors, real estate remains poorly coordinated, with multiple regulators overseeing fragmented aspects of the same industry.
The overlap often leaves both landlords and tenants confused about where to turn when disputes arise.
Healthy landlord-tenant relationships thrive on clear communication, mutual respect and a shared sense of responsibility. When these values are absent and laws are vague, tension becomes inevitable.
In Lagos, persistent conflicts over rent and eviction prompted the state to tighten its tenancy laws. The revised Lagos Tenancy Law now seeks to protect tenants from exploitation while ensuring landlords act within legal bounds.
Under the law, landlords cannot demand more than three months’ rent in advance from existing tenants, and tenants are likewise barred from paying more than that upfront. Violators risk fines of up to N100,000 or three months’ imprisonment.
Every rent payment must be accompanied by a receipt stating the amount paid, date, names of both parties, property location, and the rental period. Failure to issue such a receipt attracts a N10,000 fine.
To further check abuse, tenancy agreement fees are capped at 10 percent of annual rent. Charging above that limit breaches the law.
In the absence of a written tenancy agreement, the law specifies notice periods for eviction: one week for weekly tenants, one month for monthly tenants, three months for quarterly or half-yearly tenants, and six months for yearly tenants. A landlord may, however, approach the court for possession if a monthly tenant defaults for three months.
The Lagos model, though imperfect, offers a more structured framework for resolving the recurring friction between property owners and renters, one that other states may well need to emulate to bring sanity to Nigeria’s chaotic rental landscape.
In the explanation of Chief Johnson Onyiuke, an experienced Civil Lawyer, there must be clear expectations that follow leases.
He noted that a comprehensive lease agreement is the foundation of a good landlord-tenant relationship. He said both parties should thoroughly understand and adhere to all terms, including policies on rent payment, maintenance, guests and noise. He said that every party must respect boundaries and privacy. “Landlords must provide reasonable notice (except in emergencies) before entering the property, respecting the tenant’s right to peaceful enjoyment. Tenants, in turn, should respect the property and notify the landlord of any needed repairs or extended guest stays.
“Landlords must handle disputes professionally and approach conflicts with an open mind, focusing on finding a fair, mutually acceptable solution. If direct dialogue fails, consider third-party mediation before resorting to formal legal action. Every discussion and agreement must be documented. You must keep a written record of all communications, requests, and agreements (emails, texts, and notes from phone calls/in-person conversations). This helps to avoid misunderstandings and provides a clear history in case of future disputes,” he stated.
In her submission, Mrs. Eunice Ekhiator, a Property Lawyer, noted that landlords must be responsive and protective with maintenance while dealing with tenants in their apartments.
They must promptly address maintenance issues and ensure necessary repairs are carried out in a timely manner.
“Proactive, regular inspections can prevent small problems from escalating. A landlord must be fair and consistent. He must consistently enforce the terms of the lease for all tenants to build trust and a sense of fairness. He must show appreciation when there is a need for such. Small gestures, such as a holiday gift card or a new doormat at move-in, can show gratitude to good tenants and bolster satisfaction.
“At times landlords could be flexible and understanding because a little flexibility and empathy during unforeseen circumstances (e.g., a short-term payment plan during a financial hardship) can build significant goodwill,” she stated.
Mrs. Ekhiator noted that the above does not show that the tenant does not have something to contribute to maintain the relationship because apart from paying rent on time, the tenant must also oil the relationship. “This is a primary obligation and one of the most important factors for maintaining a positive relationship. You must be able to report issues promptly, inform the landlord of any maintenance needs or damages as soon as they occur and provide detailed information to help address the problem effectively. You should not be courting troubles that will get your landlords engaged all the time. You must be courteous to fellow tenants and neighbours, avoiding excessive noise or disturbances. You must take care of the property in your possession as if they were yours. You must use the property responsibly and keep it clean and well-maintained,” she advised.
In his contribution, Mr. Udogu Nweke, a Barrister at Law that manages corporate properties for some companies, explained that building a great landlord-tenant relationship can be a bit tough at times.
“One thing is certain they need each other. This relationship has been going on for hundreds of years. Landlords have empty properties and tenants need them to live in. It is difficult to think of a better fit than that. And yet, it’s difficult managing any landlord-tenant relationship, with issues and conflict being commonplace”.
Here are tips to help ensure a good landlord-tenant relationship.
Know the laws in your area
The foundation of a strong landlord-tenant relationship is a clear set of rules so that both sides know what is expected of the other. The first step toward creating a clear set of rules is understanding the laws in your state, city, and country. If you don’t know the laws in your area, then you may find yourself having to adapt your rules on the fly or leave a key obligation to your tenants unfulfilled. Both of these situations can sour your relationships with tenants.
Articulate lease agreement
You can use problem solutions learnt from friends or colleagues and combine it with your own rules and preferences to create a comprehensive set of guidelines for each tenant living at your property. Include these guidelines within your rental agreement so that the tenant receives them as soon as they move into the property and encourage them to read through it so they understand your expectations. Some of these rules could consist of how they should pay rent (to how you collect rent payments); how to handle late rent fees; maintenance problems, property damage and inspections and anything else that comes to mind. It is important to communicate these clearly, which could mean having them translated into a non-English language. You may also want to post the rules of your property on your website or somewhere on your property so that it’s easy for tenants to review the rules when they’re unclear about something. This is all about setting the stage for a productive relationship. You have to be clear about your expectations of tenants in order to have any hope of those expectations being upheld. Once you’ve established this strong foundation, building a great relationship on top of it becomes much easier to do.
Set first impression
It all starts with a great first impression. When you first meet a potential tenant on a tour, be warm and welcoming to them. Give them the opportunity to ask questions, and try not to do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or unwanted. It can also be helpful to share tips about the neighborhood, such as nearby amenities and attractions. Doing so will help you establish a reputation as a helpful, thoughtful landlord from day one.
Tenants screening
When someone decides to apply for one of your units, it’s important to screen them thoroughly, not just because you need to be careful about whom you let into your space, but also to avoid potential conflicts down the line. If you end up letting someone move into one of your units and they can’t afford rent, that’s going to be a major source of conflict throughout the lease term. The same is true if a new tenant has personal or professional issues that you don’t know about, or even ongoing legal trouble. The point is that if you’re not 100 per cent sure about who you are allowing to move into your unit that opens up the door for many potential problems down the line. With more thorough screening, you can avoid these kinds of issues and prevent them from disrupting your landlord-tenant relationships.
Effective complaints management
If you have been a landlord for a while now, then you know that the unexpected can, and often does, happen. Your units may have issues with any number of appliances, fixtures and utility connections throughout the completion of a standard lease. When these types of issues come up, you have to focus on resolving them quickly and effectively. If you don’t, then you could be the best person in the world, but your relationships with tenants would still be strained. As a landlord, it is your responsibility to provide excellent living accommodations to your tenants throughout the duration of the lease term. Fulfilling that responsibility is critical to having a good relationship with the people that live in your building.
Always be available
If you want to build a relationship with someone, you cannot just meet them once and expect smooth sailing. That is why it is important to be available to your tenants when they need your assistance. Whether that means responding to emails promptly, giving tenants your phone number. Being in the office during predictable parts of the day is important. Tenants may need you when they want something or have a problem. You may also want to consider setting aside dedicated time during the week or month for your tenants. For example, you could host a community gathering once a week or month to give everyone the chance to voice their opinions collectively. These kinds of initiatives go a long way toward showing tenants that you care and want to do the best that you can for them regardless of what that looks like.
Tenant privacy
This one should be a given, but it is worth repeating here just in case: you have to respect tenant privacy if you want to maintain good relationships with your tenants. That means only entering their dwellings with approval or when necessary for the good of the property. Respecting tenant privacy also means keeping their sensitive information safe, such as income, demographic information, and billing details. Privacy violations may be the easiest way to disrupt an otherwise productive relationship with a tenant. That’s why it’s worth taking the time to ensure you have everything in place you need to avoid these.
Right tools investment
For modern landlords, technology can be a major component of building a strong relationship with a tenant. It makes life easier for tenants, opens up new avenues of communication, and simplifies the role of the landlord so that you have more opportunities to engage with tenants to create lasting relationships. There are lots of different tools that can help you build stronger relationships with tenants, from websites with payment portals and maintenance requests to rental property management software that has all of the above like Doorloop. If there’s some aspect of your role as a property manager that you’re struggling with, then there’s a good chance that some technology out there can help you with it so that you can start delivering a better experience to your tenants.
