By: Kebba AF Touray
The National Assembly the Gambia, on Thursday, 21 March 2024 passed the Rent (Amendment) Bill 2024.
The bill was tabled before the plenary by the Member for Serrekunda West, Hon. Madi Ceesay, on Tuesday, 19 December 2023, in the 2023 Legislative year through a private member’s bill.
The bill seeks to address the plight of tenants regarding the high rates and frequent increment of rent, and to ensure that the rights of tenants are respected and are treated humanely.
Tabling the bill before his colleagues, the Serrekunda West Lawmaker informed Parliament that the bill seeks to make improvement on the rent Act 2014, by raising value specified for low-cost rental premises in line with contemporary times, and to enable the ordinary person afford the payment of his or her rent, rather than face the burden of paying for six or more months at any given time.
“The rate that rent is increased is also carefully considered so that both tenants and landlords will not suffer. A reasonable percentage will be allowed as annual increment of rent,” he said.
Hon. Ceesay continued to say that the bill has considered for landlords to provide a very valuable service and seeks the proper upkeep of premises that tenants occupy for the period agreed by both parties.
After tabling the bill during the second reading stage, lawmakers debated on it and said it has come at the opportune moment, when the tenants in the Gambia are confronted with numerous difficulties. They highlighted that the uncontrolled frequent increment of rent payment particularly in foreign currency notably in US Dollars, and the quick short notice that landlords normally issue to tenants, has also been taken care of by the bill.
Members during the debate, said there is need to cautiously scrutinize it saying that another factor confronting tenants is the high charges levied on rates, and said there is need for them to come up with laws to address this.
After the debate, the bill was subsequently scheduled for consideration, which was done on Thursday, 14 March 2024, and was scheduled for third reading yesterday Thursday, 21 March 2024 when it was moved by Hon. Ceesay.
Subsequently, the Rent (Amendment) Bill 2024, was considered and passed and now await the President to assent to it, for it to become law in the Gambia.
