The Rent Control Department has hinted to Citi Business News that the department may set rent charges with the introduction of the new rent law.
According to the department, the move is to check the over exploitation of prospective tenants by owners of properties.
A bill, seeking a revision of the current rent law, ACT 1963, is awaiting cabinet approval for onward submission to Parliament.
Under the new law, tenants will be required to pay only a month’s advance in rent.
It also follows the violation of the current law where landlords charged as high as two years’ advance in rent.
Speaking on Business Today, Principal Rent Officer of the Rent Control Department, Twum Ampofo said that the charges will however be disclosed upon completion of all assessments.
“When this law was passed, it was also included that tenancy agreement itself has to be more standard from the rent control department. We will stop individuals from preparing their own tenancy agreement but rather the agreement will be prepared from the rent control and you buy from the rent control,
“For the various areas, an assessment will tell. We will only go and visit the place, inspect whatever you have done so far and we assess the number of rooms you are occupying, depending on the area and the facilities in the room, we have a lot of factors put together before we can come out with the rent to be paid by the tenant.” Twum Ampofo stated.
Meanwhile some tenants have already welcomed the one month rent advance system.
According to them, it will help reduce instances of fraud as some desperate clients are eventually compelled to engage the services of agents,
“If you do not have the means, you will end up being duped as you would have to go through an agent. The landlord will take ten percent to give to the agent and he or she will also demand another ten percent from you the client,” a tenant remarked.
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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana