Wetin be my rights sef as Tenant for Naija?
A tenancy na relationship for which a party (the tenant) get possession of a property (the demised premises) from another party (the owner or landlord) for a specific period of time after hedon pay money (rent) or for free.
Tenant get rights. Im right be:
- Right to a payment receipt and written agreement: The landlord under the law must to dey give the tenant a written evidence wey shoe sey he collect money for rent. Again, both of dem suppose state the kind relationship dem want and how the landlor-teanacy relationship go end. A tenant suppose request and obtain a tenancy agreement, read am carefully before the teanancy go start.
- Right to peaceful enjoyment and exclusive possession: This one dey important and show the kain possession wey tenant get. The landlord suppose give tenant right to dey use the premise make anyother pesin no dey use am except sey landlord wan come check the property wey no suppose be every hour. Land suppose give Teanant a notice if e wan check the property because n aim right to inspect am. This and modality dem suppose put inside the tenancy agreement.
- Right to a habitable premises: The property suppose be one wey human being suppose sey liven. The landlord must to make sure sey the building dey structurally sound. Any structural defects or external damages dem must repair sharp sharp. E deyillegal make the landlord go do things wey go make the building no dey inhabitable for the tenant like removing the roofing sheets or blocking the septic tank.
- Freedom from unlawful eviction from the property: A tenant dey protected by law and dem not fit evict am anyhow by the landlord. If the tenancy go an end, the landlord go give the tenant a valid “Notice to Quit”. If the tenant no come go, after Notice to Quit, the tenant go get another “7-days notice of owners intention to recover possession”. After 7 days, tenant no come go, the landlord get right to take the tenant go court and the court wgo evict am. The tenant go also pay for the period of time he stay put after dem tell am to leave.
- Freedom from unreasonable increase in rent: The law protects the tenant from make landlord dey unreasonably increase rent. The rent no suppose dey outrageous if dem compare with others around the place. Again, the law recognize sey landlorf fit increase where e dey justified but dem must show evidence for the justification.[1]
[1] Written by Ayobayo Babade, Tolulope Olusunmade and Olakunbi Yakub of Tope Babade & Co (Real Estate Consultants) as a contribution to #KnowYourRightsNigeria project
