Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku has stated that landlords and property owners in Ghana cannot independently determine rental charges without undergoing official assessment, stressing that the law requires all rental properties to be evaluated before pricing.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, he criticised what he described as increasing “lawlessness” in the rental market, where some landlords allegedly fix prices without regulatory approval.
“That’s where I’m talking about the lawlessness,” he stated. “The law says you assess. We will assess you.”
Mr Opoku emphasised that investment in real estate does not exempt landlords from complying with the country’s rent regulations. He noted that while property owners are entitled to returns on their investments, such returns must be determined through fair and regulated assessment processes.
“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 urban centres such as Accra and Kumasi, where tenants have frequently complained about arbitrary pricing and high advance rent demands.
Mr Opoku disclosed that the authorities are reviewing existing rent assessment mechanisms as part of broader efforts to strengthen enforcement under Ghana’s Rent Act.
He further indicated that property owners will be permitted to engage independent experts during the assessment process to ensure transparency and fairness.
He also hinted at possible amendments to portions of the Rent Act before the end of the year, aimed at addressing enforcement gaps and improving regulatory compliance within the housing sector.
