Ashanti Rent Control educates public on its laws

The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the Department of Rent Control, under the Ministry of Works and Housing, has explained its “existing laws” and their enforcement, some of which are oblivious to the citizenry.

It has also hinted of a new Bill which aims at amending the Rent Act 1963 (Act 220) and also seeks to modernise the rental sector, with key proposals, including restricting rent advances to a maximum of one year.

The existing Rent Act (Act 220) regulates landlord-tenant relationships, assessing recoverable rent and mediating disputes throughout the country.

Speaking in an interview with The Chronicle, Mr. Paul Kofi Appiah, Regional Relations Officer of the Department, said the new bill, when passed into law, will help lessen the financial burden of tenants, vis-a-vis rents, as well as aid landlords deal with “unscrupulous” tenants, in terms of eviction.

The PRO also disclosed that the Department will soon, via Taskforce, commence with the assessment of rental property to determine the “appropriate price”, for which the respective properties should be let out on monthly basis.

In this case, a certificate will be issued to the Landlord or Manager, to serve as a benchmark for rent of the assessed property, subject to review or increase, until after three years of the existing tenancy, unless major improvements or modifications have been made to the property.

He stressed that the assessment of property by the Department is an existing law, but lacks enforcement, which will soon be enforced, indicating that his outfit will also engage Hostel Administrators and Managers to make them aware that it is the responsibility of the Department to determine rents, via assessment as well as educate them on its enforcement.

Mr. Appiah further explained that the “assessment” will take into consideration the location of the property, size and materials used for the building, amenities among others, noting that the assessment will be carried out by a Taskforce, comprising of a Valuer, Legal Practitioner and Rent Officer of the area, in the presence of the landlord or manager and tenants.

The Taskforce would be going around, after the assessment, for monitoring to ensure implementation.

The PRO also disclosed that there is going to be standard tenancy agreement for all, noting that the ACT also mandates Landlords to issue out tenancy agreement to tenants and also register it with the Department.

He stressed that a landlord who does not issue the agreement to his tenants, would be compelled to pay for one by the Taskforce.

Mr. Paul Kofi Appiah disclosed that the renewed enforcement drive by the Acting Commissioner of RCD, Frederick Opoku, underscores the need for effective regulation of the rent sector, to sanitise and streamline the rental space in the country.

From Oswald P. Freiku, Kumasi

 

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