There is no general law that specifies how many years a landlord must wait before increasing a tenant’s rent. This means that, in principle, a landlord may increase the rent even on a yearly basis.
However, the increase should not be arbitrary or unreasonable. The amount and manner of the increase may depend on the terms of the tenancy agreement and the applicable landlord and tenant laws in the area.
For example, if your tenancy agreement contains a specific provision stating when or how the rent may be reviewed, both the landlord and tenant are expected to follow that provision. If the agreement does not contain such a restriction, the landlord may have the right to review the rent, subject to the law.
Therefore, the fact that your landlord adds ₦50,000 to the rent every year does not, by itself, mean that the increase is automatically unlawful. The circumstances of the tenancy, the agreement between you and the landlord, and the applicable law should be considered before determining whether the increase is excessive or unlawful.
If you believe the increase is unreasonable, check your tenancy agreement first and find out what the applicable landlord and tenant law in your state provides before taking further action.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
