By Tony Christian
The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed a bill regulating residential rent and property agency fee, in an effort aimed at curbing the arbitrary increase of tent accross the state.
The bill which also seek to regulate sale of metal and electrical scraps, was passed during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Moses Odunwa.
The bill, enacted as the Ebonyi State Sale of Scraps, House Rent, and Agent Fees Regulation Law 2026, requires the governor’s assent to become law.
However, some media outlets are reporting that the law took effect immediately after its passage on August 11, 2026.
Daily Intel Newspaper understands that the legislation also established regulatory frameworks aimed at curbing the vandalism of public property, environmental degradation and exploitative practices in the state’s real estate sector.
Under the law, the unlicensed buying, selling, possession, transportation or disposal of metal and electrical scraps is prohibited.
Violators face up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of not more than ₦500,000, or both.
The law also provides that standard rent tariffs prescribed by Governor Francis Nwifuru will apply to designated housing categories, while landlords are prohibited from charging above the prescribed limits.
Landlords who obtain possession orders through fraud, misrepresentation or concealment of facts are liable to up to two years’ imprisonment.
The legislation also caps real estate agency fees at 2 per cent of the gross transaction value for both professional and non-professional agents.
It further requires all estate agents operating in the state capital to register with the Ministry of the Capital City to promote transparency and accountability.
Presenting the merits of the bill, the Leader of the House, Kingsley Ikoro, urged lawmakers to support its swift passage, saying it would help safeguard public infrastructure and protect vulnerable tenants.
Several lawmakers, including Victor Nwoke (Abakaliki North), Nwodo Nwodo (Ebonyi North West), Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali (Afikpo East), Friday Ogbuewu (Ezza South) and Celestine Ogba (Onicha East), also supported the bill during deliberations.
The lawmakers described the legislation as a timely response to increasing scrap theft and arbitrary rent increases by landlords.
Speaking after the bill passed its third reading following clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole, Odunwa said the legislation would help address the activities of scrap dealers and regulate the property market.
“Scrap dealers have shown a brazen lack of restraint, causing widespread havoc to critical public infrastructure and private property. This law restores sanity to our property market and prioritises overall public safety,” the Speaker said.
