Expedite amendment of outdated rent laws-Rent Control to Parliament

The Rent Control Department has called on Parliament to speed up reforms to Ghana’s rent laws, arguing that the current legal framework is outdated and no longer adequate for effective regulation of the rental sector.

The Department says the existing legislation continues to create difficulties in managing relationships between landlords and tenants, including operators and occupants of hostels.

The appeal was made when officials of the Department appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee during discussions on the 2025 Auditor-General’s Report.

During the hearing, Manhyia North MP Akwasi Konadu asked what measures were being taken to safeguard the interests of both landlords and tenants, particularly where tenancy agreements and arrangements change.

Responding to the committee, Acting Commissioner of the Rent Control Department, Fredrick Opoku, said one of the major challenges facing the sector is the limited public understanding of rent laws.

According to him, many landlords and tenants are still not sufficiently aware of their legal rights and obligations, a situation that affects the Department’s ability to regulate the sector effectively.

He said the Department has consequently stepped up public education efforts aimed at helping property owners and tenants better understand the law and the responsibilities that come with rental agreements.

Mr Opoku also noted that the Department has had to exercise caution in enforcing some legal provisions because of agreements and arrangements entered into by parties in landlord-tenant relationships.

He maintained that stronger public education, together with a modernised legal framework, would provide better protection for both sides and improve the overall administration of Ghana’s rental sector.

The Department is therefore urging Parliament to prioritise the amendment of the existing rent legislation to bring it in line with present-day realities.