Rent Crisis Deepens: Calls Grow for Action Against Greedy Landlords and Rogue Agents in Ghana
Ghana’s housing crisis is worsening, with many citizens decrying the growing lawlessness among landlords and housing agents. Tenants across the country say they are being exploited through exorbitant rent charges, illegal rules, and unregulated agent fees — all in clear violation of Ghana’s rent laws.
In Accra, Kumasi, and other major cities, rent prices have skyrocketed beyond reason. Small, poorly maintained single rooms now cost between GHS 800 and GHS 1,200 a month, with landlords demanding one to two years’ advance payment — a direct breach of the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220), which permits only up to six months’ advance rent.
Despite the clear legal provision, enforcement remains weak, giving landlords the freedom to operate unchecked. “Some landlords act as though they are above the law,” said a frustrated tenant in Accra. “They charge whatever they want and make rules that don’t even exist in any law.”
Indeed, many renters complain that landlords impose harsh and unreasonable conditions. Some tenants are banned from cooking inside their rooms or bringing visitors after certain hours. Others are forced to pay extra fees for owning basic appliances like refrigerators or air conditioners. In extreme cases, tenants have been warned not to paint their rooms or use certain curtains without permission.
“These are clear cases of tenant abuse,” a housing rights advocate told Berrypulse Media. “The Rent Control Department must wake up and enforce the law. People are suffering in silence because the system allows landlords to take advantage of them.”
Adding to the frustration is the growing misconduct of housing agents, who have become major players in the rent crisis. Many operate without registration or regulation, charging illegal “viewing fees,” “connection fees,” and “processing fees” from desperate house seekers. Some agents reportedly take money from several tenants for the same property and disappear afterward.
“The activities of these rogue agents are making a bad situation worse,” a tenant in Kumasi lamented. “They promise you a room, take your money, and vanish. There is no accountability.”
Analysts have called for urgent government intervention to bring sanity to the housing sector. They are urging the Ministry of Works and Housing and the Rent Control Department to strengthen law enforcement, punish defaulters, and establish a digital rent registry to track landlords and agents across the country.
Such a system, they argue, would enhance transparency, prevent fraud, and make it easier for authorities to monitor rent trends and enforce compliance with the Rent Act.
Meanwhile, tenants are also being encouraged to know their rights and report abusive landlords and agents to the Rent Control Department or local authorities.
Ghana’s housing deficit, estimated at more than 1.8 million units, continues to fuel desperation among renters, giving landlords and agents undue power. Without firm action, the country risks deepening an already critical rent crisis that threatens the financial stability and dignity of millions.
“Housing is a basic human right,” said a social policy expert. “It’s time for government to act decisively. No one should be at the mercy of greedy landlords and lawless agents.”