Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku has cautioned landlords and property owners against arbitrarily fixing rent charges without proper regulatory assessment, insisting that all rental properties must be evaluated under the law.
Speaking to the media, Mr Opoku criticised what he described as growing “lawlessness” in the country’s rental market, where some landlords allegedly set prices without following approved procedures.
“That’s where I’m talking about the lawlessness. The law says you assess. We will assess you,” he stated.
He stressed that investment in real estate does not exempt property owners from complying with Ghana’s rent regulations, adding that rental charges must go through proper assessment to ensure fairness and transparency.
“You cannot sit down, do your own calculations and peg anything because you’re an investor,” he said.
His comments come amid rising public concern over escalating rent prices in major urban centres such as Accra and Kumasi, where tenants continue to complain about arbitrary pricing and excessive advance rent demands.
Mr Opoku disclosed that authorities are currently reviewing existing rent assessment systems as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening enforcement of the Rent Act.
According to him, property owners will still be allowed to engage professional experts during the assessment process to ensure fairness and accuracy in determining rent values.
He further indicated that portions of the Rent Act may be reviewed before the end of the year to close enforcement gaps and improve compliance within the housing sector.
The Rent Commissioner’s remarks signal a renewed push by regulators to bring order into Ghana’s rental market, where disputes between landlords and tenants have become increasingly common.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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