It’s unlawful for landlords to increase rent charges without approval from us — Rent Control  

Mr Frederick Opoku, the Acting Commissioner of the Rent Control Department, says it is an offence for landlords and private hostel operators to increase rent charges without the approval of the Rent Control Department.

Instead, he said they ought to apply to the Rent Control Department to assess their facilities before they could increase rent charges.

Addressing a news conference in Sunyani, Mr Opoku expressed worry about the growing public concern about the collection of unfair and illegal rent charges by landlords and private hostel operators in the country.

He warned that the collection of exorbitant rent charges breached the Rent Act 220 (Act 1986), explaining that the Act mandated the Rent Control Department to enforce compliance.

“The Act protects both landlords and tenants and hostel operators and students”, Mr Opoku stated.

He stressed that: “No individual can increase rent charges without the assessment and approval of the Rent Control Department.”

Mr Opoku warned unregistered hostel operators to register their facilities or prepare for prosecution.

He explained that Section 20 of the Rent Control Act enjoined all private hostel operators to furnish the Department with accurate information about their premises and facilities adding that those documents must also include their registered tenancy agreement and capital investments.

Mr Opoku reminded the landlords and private hostel operators about their responsibility to issue rent cards and proper tenancy agreements to their clients.

He called on universities to establish rent control desks on their campuses that would collaborate with the Department to ensure compliance with the Act.

Mr Opoku advised tenants and students to demand and keep their receipts when they pay rent charges.

GNA