If you dey find flat for Abuja, di rent wey dem advertise for one year no tell you everything. How much di landlord want before e hand you key fit decide whether your household fit move at all. Na dis money wey tenant must bring first be one major issue for di bill wey pass second reading for House of Representatives on Wednesday, 4 November.
Paul Nnamchi, wey dey represent Enugu East and Isi-Uzo, sponsor di bill. Na Federal Capital Territory di proposal concern. As dem propose am, landlord no go fit force tenant to pay more than twelve months rent in advance. Di vote mean say lawmakers fit continue to consider di proposal.
Di question here na how many months of rent landlord fit demand at once. Dat one different from how much di house cost to rent. If two flats get di same yearly rent, but one landlord demand two years together, tenant go need double di rent money before e enter dat flat. Di limit fit change wetin tenant need bring first even if yearly rent stay di same.
Di proposal still concern agents. E go regulate agency fees and set up one common digital register wey people fit use identify housing agents. Person wey go inspect house get two separate questions: who dey act as agent for di house, and how much dem want collect for dat work?
Lawmakers no agree on how far government suppose go. People wey support di bill talk about how big advance payments dey chop into family savings. Other members ask wetin di rules fit mean for property owners and their freedom to set terms. Dem still fit examine both arguments and di wording of di bill after dis stage.
Wetin e mean for you. When you dey compare flats, ask make dem write down how long di rent cover and every extra charge. E go help you compare di cash wey you need first. Dis vote never make twelve months a new legal limit, and e never change any rent agreement wey person already get.