A new report by the Ashaiman Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre has uncovered troubling allegations against some landlords in Ashaiman, including claims that certain female tenants were pressured to exchange sex for accommodation instead of paying rent.
The report indicates that in some situations, landlords allegedly agreed to accept sexual favours in place of rent for a specified period. It further highlights instances where caretakers, despite not owning the properties, exploited women who were searching for rooms.
One case detailed in the report involved a caretaker who rented out a room to a woman for two years while the landlord was away. When the tenancy period expired, he began a relationship with her and allowed her to remain in the room for an additional year. The arrangement was later extended for another year while the relationship continued.
Even after the woman became pregnant by another man, the relationship reportedly persisted. However, when the two eventually separated, the caretaker demanded that she vacate the room. The woman resisted, insisting that they had agreed she could stay for two more years.
The dispute was referred to mediators at the centre. During mediation, the caretaker acknowledged that he was not the property owner and explained that the landlord had instructed him to recover the room. The centre facilitated a settlement between the parties, after which the caretaker paid the woman an agreed amount before she vacated the premises.
The report also cites a separate incident in which a landlord evicted a tenant after allegedly discovering him in a sexual relationship with his wife.
According to the centre, the majority of cases it handled were related to financial disputes, including rent arrears, rent increments, and tenants losing their jobs and struggling to meet payment deadlines. Other complaints involved breaches of tenancy rules, such as keeping pets without permission or accommodating unauthorised visitors.
The Ashaiman Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre has urged both landlords and tenants to comply with tenancy laws and resolve disagreements through lawful and peaceful means.
Modernghana
