By Agency report
Contrary to the frustrating situation in Africa’s most populated country; Nigeria, her neighbour; Ghana has an established mechanism: the ‘Rent Control Department’ to regulate rent and determine how much the Landlord can fix for a property.
This was a deliberate act of the Government to help ameliorate the pain tenants go through with a spike in property rental, the country’s Acting Rent Commissioner, Frederick Opoku was quoted to have said in reports by several media platforms online.
Speaking on TV3 Ghana, reports say the Commissioner as a reminder, disclosed that the rent laws in the West African country, ban Landlords from indiscriminate and arbitrary rent charge for a property.
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“According to the rent law in Ghana, no Landlord has the right to sit at will and charge whatever he wants to charge unless the Rent Control Department comes in, does an assessment, gives you a certificate of assessment and until after the certificate of assessment has been issued, you can’t increase rent.’‘
However, most landlords in the country are ignorant of the law, as it is actually not being enforced, Opoku was quoted to have said.
The acting Commissioner is said to be strengthening the Ghana’s Rent Control Department to enforce effective April 1, 2026 the Rent Act 1963 (Act 220) which bans advance rent payments exceeding six months.
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Opoku is said to be cracking down on unlawful rent hikes and ensuring landlord compliance with mandatory registration.
The measure is aimed at reducing financial pressure on the tenant, it was said.
Further, reports say the Rent Control Department under Opoku is moving against what is termed; wicked and arbitrary landlords who increase rent without obtaining an official assessment certificate.
Part of the policy, it was said; landlords must register tenancy agreements under section 4 of PNDCL 138 – 1986 aimed at protecting the tenant from illegal eviction.
As the Department is said to be working with the bank of Ghana to stop the illegal practice of landlords demanding rent in foreign currency.
Under Opoku, the Department is targeting illegal, exorbitant advances and arbitrary hikes, with a planned seven months educational grace period before strict enforcement, it was said.
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