Lagos Landlord lands in court

Tenants at the Broadway Shopping Plaza have dragged their landlord to court over allegations of a 100 per cent rent increment and for demanding a three-year upfront payment of rent.

It was gathered that the landlord of the plaza, Sunday Omosen, had sometime in August allegedly called the tenants to inform them of his intention to increase the rent by 100 per cent and demanded the tenants to pay three years’   rent upfront.

It was learnt that depending on size and location, shops in the plaza, went for between N250, 000 to N1m per annum. It was also gathered that the current rent for most tenants was due to expire on October 31, this year.

The Lagos State Tenancy Law 2011 states in part, “It shall be unlawful for a landlord or his agent to demand or receive from a sitting tenant rent in excess of six months from a monthly tenant and one year from a yearly tenant in respect of any premises without prejudice to the nature of tenancy held at the commencement of the tenancy.”

When the matter was brought before Justice O. H. Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court for hearing on Wednesday, the landlord’s counsel, Mr. Okechukwu Umemuo, denied the allegation of the 100 per cent rent increment and three years’ upfront payment.

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi ordered the parties (landlord and tenants) to maintain the status quo and pay their rent on or before November 6, 2014, which is the next adjournment for the case.

 

The plaza

- Punch