The Bono Regional Director of the Rent Control Department, Madam Matilda Amo, has reminded landlords that Ghana’s rent laws prohibit the collection of advance payments beyond six months for long-term rentals.
Speaking on GIFTs FM’s morning programme Anopa Bosuo, hosted by Kwaku Mensah Abrampa, Madam Amo said any landlord who demands more than the legally permitted advance is in breach of the law and should be reported to the Rent Control Department for action.
She explained that under the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220) and Rent Regulation L.I. 369, offenders risk a penalty of up to 250 penalty units—about GH¢3,000—or a jail term ranging from three to seven months, or both, depending on the severity of the offence.
Clarifying the provisions further, Madam Amo noted that short-term rentals should not exceed a one-month advance, subject to renewal, while long-term agreements must not go beyond six months’ rent in advance. Any landlord who flouts these rules, she stressed, is violating the law.
According to her, these regulations have been in place for over six decades to promote fairness and order in Ghana’s rental sector, protecting both tenants and property owners.
Madam Amo also dismissed the notion that the Rent Control Department exists to intimidate landlords, explaining that its primary role is to ensure compliance with housing regulations.
She, however, acknowledged that challenges within the rental market are not solely caused by landlords, pointing out that individuals also contribute to the problem.
She added that adhering to the six-month rental framework can benefit landlords, as it allows them to review tenancy agreements regularly and take appropriate action, including eviction, if tenants breach the terms after the period expires.