Hi NL's. I need some advice from Property Lawyers in the house.
My apartment which i currently reside has been managed for some years by the developers. However, their agreement with the landlord ends this year and as such the building reverts to the landlord to collect the rent.
Earlier this month, the actual owner i.e. landlord told me and other tenants verbally that the house is due for renovation and as such want all tenants to leave at the expiration of their rent, which is December 2012 (please note that I pay rent annually for January to December).
My questions are:
i) in what form should this notice be given? verbal or written
ii) how many months of notice is a tenant entitled to by law
iii) is there any opportunity to appeal or seek extension of time.......if so, how does one go about this

Please help out folks.
Thanks.

From the info you have provided, you are a yearly tenant and you by law entitled to a 6 months notice to quit IN WRITING and that fulfills the requirements of the law. I guess the Landlord is an illiterate cause its common knowledge. You can approach the Landlord in a gentlemanly manner letting him know that you know your rights under the law but that you only need a little more time to plan your movement from the house because things are really tight now. Mail me on kehinde.a@aol.com should you need more clarification and assistance.

1. u are entitled to 6 months wriiten notice.
2. Yearly tenants should be notified 6 months ahead
3. Talk to him personally to give u time or ask your lawyer to write him for more time incase he refuses.
4.Tell him to take u to court and the court will compel him to serve u the 6 months quit notice since u did not default on your rent payment.

(I hope he is not a juju man oo cos I dont trust Lagos landlords) .

Thanks @femi_seun and @zaynee63.... in addition to this 6months by law, ow can i go about seeking for an additional 6month, i.e making it one year. By my own plan i intend to vacate the apartment by December 2013. So wld just wanna get a 1yr time to ensure my plans aint scuffled. Is this still possible, if so...ow do i go about this...thanks.

bros, you cannot eat your rice and have it.

Before the advent of the new tenancy law in Lagos, the landlord was required to give 6 months notice expiring at the anniversary of the tenancy. What that means is that your landlord would have given you 6 months notice to expire in December 2013 but under the new law, he can give you 6 months notice commencing from December 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013. If you do not hand over possession by then and he goes to court, you are likely to have an additional 2-3 months. In the light of this I strongly advice that you should commence exit strategy from the apartment.

omogidi234: bros, you cannot eat your rice and have it.

Before the advent of the new tenancy law in Lagos, the landlord was required to give 6 months notice expiring at the anniversary of the tenancy. What that means is that your landlord would have given you 6 months notice to expire in December 2013 but under the new law, he can give you 6 months notice commencing from December 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013. If you do not hand over possession by then and he goes to court, you are likely to have an additional 2-3 months. In the light of this I strongly advice that you should commence exit strategy from the apartment.

Abeg no teach am bad thing but he will get the 12months if he goes thru the judicial process

Simply obey LAW! We nigerian do not follow simple law... remember that you will be a landlord someday too; thats if you do not worry your current landlord. Here in US, you leave when you are note to leave, end of story.

At poster... No be long thing... If U want an extra year I can get You the extra year... Call 08093779782...

@ femi_seun

Please take a closer look at the proviso under the notice required to terminate tenancy. I am certain of my position.

@ omogidi
yeah u are right ..But no teach am bad thin, he is looking for additional 6months to complete one year

omogidi... and femi_seun... true talk... people should stop advising about that becuase it will be abused in nigeria.. i have seen cases where tenants say they are entilted to six months after the rent has expired. and they get angry when they dont get it...