Recovery of Premises Flashcards
What laws govern the recovery of premises in Lagos?
- The Tenancy Law of Lagos State 2011 applies to both residential and business premises throughout Lagos state
- Recovery of Premises Law of Lagos State applies to business premises in Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi and Victoria-Island
What areas are exempted from the Tenancy law of Lagos State 2011?
Apapa, Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi, and Victoria-Island
What law governs the Abuja recovery of premises?
Recovery of Premises Act
What court has jurisdiction over tenancy matters?
Magistrates court or the High Court
What is the limit on the jurisdiction of the magistrate court?
Limited to claims where the annual rental value is N`10 million or less
what is the limit on the jurisdiction of magistrate where the additional claim exceeds 10 million?
The magistrate will still have jurisdiction
Where is the action for recovery commenced in Abuja?
In the district court or the high court
What is the monetary limit of the magistrate in Abuja
N5 million
Who is a statutory tenant?
is a tenant protected by the law from being evicted from the premises without following the due process of law
Who is a trespasser or a squatter
A person who is in unlawful occupation of premises
Who is a tenant at will
Is a person who occupies premises purely at the will of the landlord.
As such he may be given reasonable notice to give up the premises at any time.
There is no fixed period given to him by the landlord
Who is a licensee?
A person who is on premises with the landlord’s permission.
Such permission may be withdrawn at any time
What is the procedure for recovery of premises?
- Obtain letter of authority from landlord
- Serve notice to quit
- If notice to quit is not complied with, serve a 7 days notice of intention to recover possession of premises
- If there is still no compliance with the 7 days notice of intention to recover possession of premises, commence action in court for recovery of premises
How should the letter of authority from landlord be given?
Authorisation should be given in writing
Coker v Adetayo
Who should serve a notice to quit ?
May be served by the landlord or his solicitor/agent authorised to do so.
How is length of notice to quit determined?
It is open to parties to determine the length of notice to quit
In the absence of any agreement between the parties, the following would apply:
1. Tenancy at will- 1 week notice
2. Weekly tenancy- 1 week notice
3. Monthly tenancy- 1 month notice
3. Quarterly tenancy- 3 months notice
4. Half-yearly tenancy - 3 months notice
5. Yearly tenancy- 6 months notice
If the length of notice is short by even one day, the notice will be declared invalid
Nnadozie v Oluoma
What does statutory interpretation say about calculating one month’s notice?
one month is calculated to be the corresponding day in the ensuing month, less one day
What does common law say about calculating one month’s notice
A calendar month ends on the day of the ensuing month having the same number
or if the ensuing month does not have the same number, then the last day of the month