“You Can’t Live Rent-Free After Quit Notice Has Been Served Or Rent Expired”: – Lawyer Tells Nigerians
Landlords’ rights and tenants’ obligations: A Nigerian lawyer explains the law on rent and eviction
A Nigerian lawyer, who goes by the handle @egi_nupe_ on Twitter, has posted a series of tweets clarifying the legal aspects of rent and eviction in Nigeria. The lawyer, whose identity is not disclosed, said that many Nigerians are misinformed or ignorant about their rights and duties as tenants and landlords, and often end up in disputes or litigation over rent and possession of properties.
According to the lawyer, tenants are not entitled to live rent-free after their tenancy expires or a notice to quit is served or a case is in court. He listed seven points to explain the law on rent and eviction, which are summarized as follows:
– Tenants must vacate the property within seven days of receiving a notice of the landlord’s intention to recover possession from court, if their rent or tenancy has expired.
– Tenants are only entitled to six months notice to quit if their rent or tenancy is still valid and has not expired.
– Notice to quit is only served on tenants if their rent has not expired and it will expire with or after their tenancy, depending on when the notice is issued.
– Tenants must pay for every extra day they stay in the property after their notice to quit or tenancy expires, unless the landlord allows them to stay.
– Tenants must pay the landlord “mesne profit” or “compensation for use and occupation” until they hand over the property to the landlord, after their tenancy is terminated by the passage of time or notice.
– Tenants must pay more money to the landlord if the landlord files a case against them to recover the property, and they must pay for every single day they stay in the property while the case is pending in court.
– Tenants cannot get a case dismissed for non-service of notice to quit or seven days notice, as the courts have adopted a new approach to ensure that landlords are not frustrated by their troublesome and bad tenants who would deprive them of the economic value of their properties over non-service of notice to quit. The courts now consider that once a case is filed, it is deemed that notice has been given and tenants should start preparing to leave or face the consequences.
The lawyer’s tweets have generated a lot of reactions from other Twitter users, some of whom thanked him for the enlightenment, while others asked questions or shared their experiences or opinions on the matter. Some also criticized the lawyer for being biased or insensitive to the plight of tenants, especially in the wake of the economic hardship.
