Mr Adam Yaminu Kasim, the Upper East Regional Manager for the Rent Control Department has said the Rent Control Act 220 restricted Landlords from charging rent payments in advance beyond six months.
He said the practice, where landlords fixed rent prices without consulting the Rent Control Department was also illegal, not permissible and fraudulent.
“it is illegal for landlords to fix rents for a room. Rent is determined and approved by the rent control department, and therefore landlords have to apply to the department for assessment and ratings before they can give their facilities out for rent”.
He indicated that tenants were not under any obligation to pay rent advance beyond six months, because the rent control laws had not changed, and said some landlords took undue advantage of tenants’ ignorance, frustrations and urgency to demand long term rents, sometimes insisting on between one to 10 years advance payment.
Mr Kasim who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga said reports of rent related issues over the years had overwhelmingly increased in the region and indicated that most of the cases were rent refund demanded by tenants, rent arrears owed landlords and threats by landlords to evict tenants.
He said Act 220 which replaced the Rent Ordinance Law was tactically enacted to take care of exigencies of potential tenants and tenants to ensure that Landlords did not put too much financial strains on tenants who requested to hire their properties.
The Regional Manager noted that most members of the public were unaware that his outfit existed to mediate or prosecute matters related to rent, and called on tenants and Landlords to report cases bordering on rent to the department for redress.
He said rent issues, whether residential or business, were critical and synonymous with the growing population and assuming importance in all spheres of life.
He added that, it was imperative to invite the media in the region, especially radio and print to support the Department by educating members of the public on some of the rent related issues confronting the members of the public.
Mr Karim noted that from 2001 to 2011 the Department received between 20-30 cases a year for arbitration and prosecution, and said however, that, the cases had increased to an average of 100 cases each year since 2012.
“Some cases are solved immediately and tenants do not need to file complaints while others are referred to the court. Rent refund cases far outweigh rent in arrears cases.”
The Manager emphasized that about 22 cases known as the ‘enforcement’ had been referred to the courts and said all the other cases were successfully arbitrated and explained that in terms of rent refunds, it was the reimbursement of unexhausted advance in which for some reasons the tenant would have to leave the premises.
“Those cases are more because of the illegalities landlords are engaged in. By the current law, Act 220, landlords cannot take rent in advance for more than six months. It should be on monthly bases”.
He, however, advised tenants not to be intimidated by their landlord’s threats, and feel free to report such cases.
“Some tenants are afraid to file complaints because of fear that landlords may ask them to vacate the facility”.
Source: GNA
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Rent taken from newly built houses should defer from that of old ones. Some land lords have bn renting this rooms for so many years thus, making lotta profit already yet, they continue to increase rent why??. The annoying part is they do not renovate or give the house a new paint but continue to increase rent so they can enjoy chinchinga. Am a land lord too but those doing that should watch out cos God, the owner of this land will one day come for it, and we all will answer to Him.
OLA LA LAA, I THINK THIS ADAM WONT TO RENT SOME ROOM FOR HIS GIRL FRIEND, SO NOW HE SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUG, MY FRIEND LET ME ASK YOU? DID THE GOVERNMENT CONSULT THE LANDLORD BEFORE HE FIXED CEMENT PRICE? IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY PLEASE GET LOST
Just get a bag of cement, collect sand from the roads, put sticks, collect water from the gutters, call your children, or wife. Let them lift them to you on table tops Pronto ! You have a house then you can rent it out for only six months. Instead of repealing the rent laws to encourage many more houses to be built to meet national needs you '***barred word***' about illegal rent advance. Who dont know how you give out your own houses to government agencies for 'killer' rent advances. BESIDES HOW MUCH DID YOU COLLECT AS RENT ADVANCE,as parlimentarians and ministers. Show us a better way and we shall all follow you.
Rly? Land lords killing u? Hmmm. Stop chewing chinchinga and pizza and use ur money to build so that u become a landlord too. Stuuuuupiid talk. Who should suffer n build for u to rent it at a cheaper rate. How can the landlord recoup his investment. Mmcheeeew.
This is very crucial to our survival as a nation. Media houses must take it on like they did with banning Galamsey. Landlords r killing us in Ghana coz our laws don't work.
Why cant the government construct some and abide by that so called law. We suffer to build our own houses and you come and tell this. Me I can decide not to rent my property to anyone and we see people will suffer
The laws of Ghana are not working.. So pls stop saying things that will bring trouble for you..we just paid 2yrs advance and where were you.. We r in garage converted to a chamber and hall self contain.. 200 cds a month..if you are not paying u r going out for someone to come inn.just so Mr minister enforce the laws of the land
nana addo must do something