Kano Assembly Seeks Review Of Rent Control Law

The Kano State House of Assembly has called for a review of the state’s rent control law to address arbitrary increases in house and shop rents across the state.

The Speaker, Ismail Falgore, made the call during Tuesday plenary following a motion moved by the member representing Takai Constituency, Musa Kachako, who raised concerns over the rising cost of renting residential and commercial properties.

Kachako expressed concern over the practice of landlords increasing rents without giving tenants adequate notice, citing instances where annual house rents had risen from N100,000 to between N200,000 and N300,000 within a year.

He also disclosed that shop rents had increased from N1 million to N2 million within the same period, placing additional financial pressure on traders and other business owners.

The lawmaker said the trend was worsening the economic difficulties faced by farmers, traders and low-income earners who depend on rented accommodation and business premises for their livelihoods.

While acknowledging landlords’ right to earn reasonable returns on their investments, Kachako stressed the need for regulations to ensure fairness in rent adjustments and protect tenants from arbitrary increases.

He said reviewing the existing law would help establish a balance between landlords’ interests and tenants’ rights, particularly amid the rising cost of accommodation and commercial spaces across Kano State.

The call comes as rising rental costs continue to place pressure on household budgets and small businesses, many of which depend on rented premises to operate.

The proposed review is expected to strengthen the state’s legal framework for rent regulation and address concerns over excessive rent increases. However, no specific timeline or details of proposed amendments were provided.