Kano State Assembly seeks review of rent control laws

The Kano State House of Assembly has called for a review of the state’s rent control law to address sharp and arbitrary increases in both residential and commercial rents. Speaker Ismail Falgore initiated the call for a legislative review during a plenary session following a motion by Musa Kachako, the representative for Takai Constituency.

Lawmakers reported that landlords are frequently increasing rents without providing tenants with adequate notice. Specific examples cited include annual house rents rising from 100,000 naira to between 200,000 and 300,000 naira, and shop rents doubling from 1 million naira to 2 million naira within a single year.

These increases are reportedly placing significant financial strain on low-income earners, farmers, and traders who rely on rented premises for their livelihoods. While acknowledging the right of landlords to receive reasonable returns on their investments, the Assembly emphasized the need for a regulatory framework that ensures fair adjustments and protects tenants from excessive, sudden hikes.