The Rent Amendment Bill, 2024 was approved by the members of the Gambia National Assembly on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

On Tuesday, December 19, 2023, the honourable member for Serekunda West, Hon. Madi MK Ceesay, presented the bill to the legislators.The bill’s main goal is to make changes to the current Rent Act of 2014. Its clauses define what it means for landlords to keep their rental properties livable, require landlord consent before a tenant sublets, set down when rent increases are allowed, and cover other related topics.

The goal of this legislative effort is to update the Rent Act of 2014 by updating the value rules for affordable rental properties to reflect current norms. It also seeks to ease tenants’ financial burden by allowing for monthly rental payments as opposed to one-time lump sums that are spread out over several months.

The focus of the bill, as highlighted by Honourable Ceesay, is on maintaining adequate care of rented premises for the agreed-upon term of the lease, while also acknowledging the valuable service provided by landlords.

Honourable Ceesay made a motion, and the bill was granted approval for a third reading and ultimately passed. It is currently awaiting presidential approval to become Gambia law.