It Is Unlawful To Rent Apartment For More Than Six Months – Rent Control Officer

Deputy Ashanti Regional Rent Control Boss, Mr Paul Appiah has disclosed that it is against the law to rent an apartment for more than six months.

In an interview with George Opoku Mensah (Agudey) on Opemsuo Radio’s Nkwantananso show, the rent control officer said “the Rental Act, 1993 Act 220 stipulates that an apartment rental must not exceed six months”.

“As such, Landlords do not have the mandate to collect 2 years advance payment from tenants as we normally see in the country”.

He stated that “both Landlords and tenants commit an offence where an apartment is offered and rented beyond six months”.

Mr Appiah said, “the Rent Control has tried to register Landlords and houses to be able to deal with this issue but there has been non-cooperation from Landlords as during their piloting at Asante Mampong in the Ashanti Region, rent control officials were described as Jehovah Witness evangelists moving around to preach the gospel”.

On the issue of demands for excess increment by Landlords, Mr Appiah answered that there could only be an increment when there has been a value addition such as making reforms in the building. He insisted that the increment can be made only after two years of the tenant’s stay in the apartment.

He added that whereas a tenant’s rental period is due and is financially restrained to renew the tenancy at the moment can seek the court’s intervention to be declared “vulnerable” and hence be making the payment bit-by-bit if the Landlord disagrees at the initial stages.

Mr Appiah applauded the government for introducing the National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS) as it will help improve upon the track records of residents particularly to identify or distinguish between Ghanaians and foreign nationals.

The Rent Control Officer also lamented over the lack of logistics made available to his outfit that will give the department the capacity to operate more effectively and efficiently.

Source: Opemsuo.com/ Effah Mensah William