The Rent Control Department, has reminded prospective tenants of their right to demand a tenancy agreement before making any rent advance payments.
His comments come at a time when rent remains a major headache for many Ghanaians, especially the youth, who continue to struggle with high rent costs and exploitative demands from some landlords.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Thursday, July 3, Emmanuel Xove Kporsu, Head of Public Relations at Rent Control explained that the law provides a clear process to protect tenants.
According to him, no tenant should make rent payments without first receiving and reviewing a tenancy agreement, which spells out the terms, conditions, and responsibilities of both parties.
“The law has a laid down procedure. You initially would like to go and search for a property or through an agent you may get a property. So the first thing as a right is to demand what we call a tenancy agreement. So when you read and understand and you sign, then become binding. So again, the first issue is to demand that tenancy agreement before even you pay the rent advance, which will be demanded by the landlord.,” he stated.
He further stressed that landlords have no legal right to demand more than six months’ rent advance, adding that tenants should resist any attempts to impose such illegal demands.
However, Mr. Kporsu acknowledged the current realities of Ghana’s housing market, where a significant accommodation deficit has left many, especially young people, desperate for places to live, often leading them to waive their rights and comply with illegal rent demands.
“As a tenant, it’s your right again not to pay more than six months rent advance. That’s a right, but some tenants are waiving that because of the housing deficit, because of the competition on a single property. People are just waiving that right. Landlord has no right to demand more than six months rent advance,” he emphasised.
The reminder from the Rent Control Department comes amid growing public frustration over the high cost of rent in urban centres like Accra, Tema, and Kumasi, where accommodation challenges continue to worsen, disproportionately affecting young Ghanaians seeking independence or starting their careers.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
