Ag Rent Commissioner warns landlords against arbitrary pricing

Acting Rent Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, has cautioned landlords and property owners against fixing rent charges without proper assessment, insisting that Ghana’s rent laws require all rental properties to undergo official evaluation.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Opoku criticised what he described as increasing “lawlessness” within the country’s rental market, where some landlords allegedly determine prices without regulatory oversight.

“That’s where I’m talking about the lawlessness,” he stated. “The law says you assess. We will assess you.”

Mr Opoku explained that although property owners are entitled to make returns on their investments, they are still obligated to comply with the provisions of the Rent Act.

According to him, rent charges must be subjected to fair assessment procedures to promote transparency and protect tenants from arbitrary pricing.

“You cannot sit down, do your own calculations and peg anything because you’re an investor,” he stressed.

His remarks come amid growing public concern over escalating rent costs in major cities, including Accra and Kumasi, where tenants have repeatedly complained about high rental charges and demands for large advance payments.

Mr Opoku disclosed that authorities are preparing to review existing rent assessment mechanisms as part of broader efforts to strengthen enforcement under the Rent Act and improve compliance across the housing sector.

He added that property owners would be allowed to engage experts during the assessment process to ensure fairness and transparency.

The Acting Rent Commissioner also hinted at possible amendments to sections of the Rent Act before the end of the year to address enforcement challenges and close regulatory gaps within Ghana’s housing sector.