'If I complain about this ₦350,000 service charge, my landlord might double my rent next year or refuse to renew my lease.' This fear keeps thousands of Nigerian tenants silent while paying for non-existent security, broken pumps, and uncleaned drainages.
It is crucial to understand what the law says about tenant rights, retaliatory actions, and landlord self-help in Nigeria.
1. The Law explicitly forbids self-help and harassment
In Lagos, section 44 of the Tenancy Law 2011 makes it an offence to forcibly eject a tenant, to threaten or molest a tenant to make them leave, or to alter or damage the building to get them out without the court's approval. Across Nigeria, courts treat self-help by a landlord as unlawful. A landlord or caretaker should not:
- Lock the gate or stop you, your family or your visitors from reaching your flat.
- Cut off your water or electricity to force you out. The current Lagos law doesn't name this, but it can amount to harassment, and the 2025 Lagos tenancy bill would ban it expressly.
- Remove roof sheets, windows or doors under the guise of renovations.
- Send thugs or guards to intimidate you.
In Lagos, the penalty under section 44 is a fine of up to ₦250,000 or up to six months in prison. If it happens, report it to the police, and consider mediation at the Lagos Citizens' Mediation Bureau, which is free.
2. The Statutory Eviction Process: No landlord can evict you overnight
A landlord cannot simply wake up and throw you out because you asked for an audited service charge account. In Nigeria, evicting a tenant requires strict compliance with statutory notice periods:
- For a yearly tenancy: A mandatory 6-month Notice to Quit must be served, terminating on the exact anniversary of the tenancy.
- Followed by a mandatory 7-Day Notice of Owner's Intention to Apply to Court to Recover Possession.
- Followed by a formal court summons and trial before a magistrate. Only a court bailiff acting under a valid warrant of possession can legally eject a tenant.
3. How to complain professionally without triggering conflict
The key to protecting yourself is professionalism. Never yell at your landlord or send aggressive voice notes on WhatsApp. Instead, send a calm, written letter:
'Dear Landlord, under section 10 of the Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011, I would like a written account of how the service charge for 2025/2026 was spent, before we discuss renewing the lease. Thank you.' This shows you know your rights without picking a fight. Section 10 applies in Lagos, outside the areas the Law exempts.
