The Minority leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has called for a review of the county’s rent law.
According to the minority leader, the current high level of housing deficit in country will make it impossible for the law barring the payment of rent advance in excess of the mandatory six months to be adhered to.
He said this on the back of the alleged frivolous spending of about $180,000 by the Commissioner for the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Lauretta Lamptey on accommodation alone.
[contextly_sidebar id=”RESdtEOLXVTZBObE2UFhnGEFRwWJiOvs”]The Rent Control Department condemned the move by the CHRAJ boss to pay rent advance in excess of the mandatory six months.
According to the Chief Rent Officer, Addo Soin Dombo, the commission also violated the rent laws by paying the Commissioner’s rent in dollars.
Speaking to Citi News, Kyei Mensah Bonsu said the law must be amended to meet current circumstances.
“They have to look at it again. I am talking about the rent laws relating to the payment of advances. It doesn’t exist and let us not pretend that they do exist anywhere. That law is unrealistic”
The Rent law was first introduced on December, 23, 1915 by the enactment of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (War Restrictions) Act 1915 in the United Kingdom.
It was intended to be a temporary measure, due to expire six months after the end of the First World War to deal with excessive increases in rents.
This law was however consolidated and amended in 1920 to operate in the long term due to continuing deterioration in housing supply.
Mortgages of houses controlled by the Act were prevented from increasing the rate of interest to enforce the security.
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana