Delta Assembly Begins Process to Repeal 1977 Rent Control Law

The Delta State House of Assembly has opened deliberations on a bill seeking to repeal the Rent Control and Recovery of Residential Premises Law of 1977 and replace it with a new Landlord and Tenant Law, 2025. The move followed a public hearing held at the DTHA Press Centre in Asaba.

Chairman of the Joint Committee on Housing, Women Affairs, Girl Child Entrepreneur Services, and Physical Planning and Urban Renewal, Bridget Anyafulu, led the session, outlining the bill’s broad focus on regulating landlord–tenant relations, tenancy agreements, rent payments, and rent control. She noted that the proposed law aims to strengthen the framework guiding the housing sector.

Anyafulu said the legislation is intended to support a balanced sector that accommodates landlords, agents, and tenants while promoting stability in Delta State. Flanked by Oloye Pereotu and members of the joint committee, she urged participants to contribute meaningfully to the process.

The committee welcomed written and oral submissions from stakeholders, with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Association of Organized Realtors, landlords’ and tenants’ groups, the Court of Appeal, real estate agents, and private-sector actors in attendance.