Ebonyi Assembly Passes Law To Regulate House Rent And And Agent Fees

The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a new law aimed at regulating house rent and agency fees in the state.

The legislation seeks to standardize rents across the state and curb excessive charges by both professional and non-professional agents.

Lawmakers said the bill was introduced in response to growing complaints from tenants over arbitrary rent increments and high agency and legal fees that have made accommodation unaffordable for many residents.

Under the new law, landlords and agents will be required to comply with approved guidelines on rent collection, tenancy agreements, and commission rates. The Assembly noted that the measure will bring sanity to the housing sector and protect tenants from exploitation.

Speaking after the passage, members of the Assembly described the law as timely, stressing that it will create a fair and transparent system for both landlords and tenants.

They added that relevant government agencies will be tasked with enforcement and monitoring to ensure compliance.

Stakeholders in the housing sector are expected to be engaged in the implementation process to ensure smooth rollout of the new regulations.

The bill will now be forwarded to Governor Francis Nwifuru for assent before it becomes law.