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Houses in Lagos is an analysis-led blog focused on Lagos real estate trends, development patterns, and market shifts. The author interprets property news and project activity to explain how the city’s real estate landscape is evolving and what those changes mean in practice.


Popular posts from this blog

🇳🇬 Understanding MREIF: Nigeria’s ₦1 Trillion Mortgage Fund Transforming Home Ownership

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A guide to what the fund is, how it works, who it helps, and what Nigerians should expect next. Nigeria’s housing market has struggled for decades: high mortgage rates, short loan tenures, cash-upfront home sales, and banks unwilling to issue long-term mortgages because they lack stable funding. In 2025, the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) introduced what it calls a  transformational solution : the  MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF) , a government-backed, private-sector–supported mechanism designed to reshape how Nigerians access housing. MREIF is more than a loan program. It is a  ₦1 trillion structured investment fund  built to mobilize public and private capital, provide low-cost mortgages, de-risk developers, and stimulate large-scale housing development across the country. It is regulated under Nigeria’s capital markets rules and operates like a modern real estate investment fund, with commercial units now trading on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). A...
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Stamp Duty in 2026: What Lagos Landlords, Agents, and Investors Need to Know

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From 1 January 2026 , Nigeria’s new tax laws officially took effect. While much of the public conversation has focused on income tax, one quiet but important change affects almost every property transaction in Lagos: stamp duty on leases. For years, stamp duty has sat in the background of Lagos real estate, inconsistently applied, poorly explained, and often overlooked in everyday transactions. That has now changed. This article explains what stamp duty means in 2026, what is different, and how it is already shaping real estate practice in Lagos,  clearly, practically, and without legal jargon. What Is Stamp Duty in Real Estate? Stamp duty is a tax paid on certain legal documents to give them formal recognition and validity. In real estate, it applies to documents such as: Tenancy agreements Lease agreements Subleases Assignments and conveyances In simple terms, stamp duty is what makes a property document legally usable. An unstamped document may exist, but it can be diffic...
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🚨New Lagos Tenancy Bill 2025: Key Changes Landlords and Tenants Should Know

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The Lagos State Assembly is currently considering the Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill 2025, a  major reform that could dramatically change how rent and tenancy work across the city. The bill passed its second reading on July 10, 2025.  The bill's sponsor has not been publicly named, and as of December 2025, it remains a draft and has not yet been enacted into law . This means its provisions are still under review and are not yet legally binding. Here are the key changes proposed in the bill: Real-estate agents must register with LASRERA, and agency fees are capped at 5% of annual rent (down from the common 10–15%).  New renters cannot be forced to pay more than one year’s rent upfront . Monthly tenants are protected from demands beyond three months’ advance rent . Violations may attract fines or jail time.  The bill criminalizes illegal eviction practices—landlords can no longer cut utilities, block access, or seize property without a court order. O...
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