Kano Assembly Moves To Check Arbitrary Rent Increases

The Kano State House of Assembly has called for a review of the state’s rent control law to check arbitrary increases in house and shop rents amid growing concerns over the burden on tenants.

The Speaker, Ismail Falgore, made the call during Monday’s plenary after the member representing Takai Constituency, Musa Kachako, raised a motion on the rising cost of renting residential and commercial properties.

Kachako said landlords were increasingly raising rents without adequate notice, citing instances where annual house rents rose from N100,000 to between N200,000 and N300,000, while shop rents increased from N1m to N2million within a year.

He said the trend disproportionately affected traders, farmers and low-income earners, many of whom depended on rented accommodation and business premises for their livelihoods.

The lawmaker acknowledged landlords’ right to earn returns on their investments but stressed the need for regulations that would ensure reasonable rent adjustments and protect both parties from unfair treatment.

He urged the government to strengthen the legal framework governing tenancy arrangements in the state.

Supporting the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Butu-butu, called for clear guidelines on rent increases and the screening of prospective tenants, citing concerns over the security implications of renting out properties without adequate checks.

He also linked the high cost of commercial rents to the difficulties faced by small-scale traders, noting that expensive shops could force some business owners to operate on the streets, contributing to congestion.

Butu-butu, however, acknowledged that landlords also faced rising construction and maintenance costs, including expenses for repairs and essential facilities, but argued that rent increases should be guided by established standards.

Responding, Falgore said the interests of landlords and tenants must be considered in any review of the law.

He called for consultations with the state’s rent control committee and other relevant stakeholders to identify areas requiring amendments.

The Speaker said the engagement should produce measures that would promote fairness and ease the burden on residents.