The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has officially approved legislation governing house rents, estate agent commissions, and the scrap metal trade. Presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa at the assembly complex in Abakaliki, the law will become active on August 11, 2026.
Known as the Ebonyi State Sale of Scraps, House Rent and Agent Fees Regulation Law, 2026, the act aims to control the trade and transport of electrical and metal scraps while curbing unfair housing practices. Under these rules, only licensed dealers may trade or transport such scraps, with violations punishable by up to two years in prison or a N500,000 fine. Landlords who secure property possession through deceit or fraud also face a two-year prison sentence.
The law caps estate agency fees at two percent of a transaction’s total value. Furthermore, landlords are prohibited from exceeding state-prescribed rent rates, and all agents working in the capital must register with the Ministry of Capital City Development. House Leader Hon. Kingsley Ogbonna Ikoro stated that the bill targets property vandalism and exploitation within the housing market. Several assembly members echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need to halt theft related to scrap materials and protect residents from predatory rent hikes.
