The Rent Control Department has restated that landlords committing the act of raising rent without obtaining approval from the department are engaging in an offense.
Public Relations Officer of the Department, Emmanuel Kporsu, informed Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that they have received numerous reports from tenants who have informed them about their landlords’ intentions to evict them due to their inability to afford the increased rent.
Kporsu emphasized that according to the law, landlords are obligated to communicate with the Department, providing a rationale for their intention to increase the rent.
He said that if the landlord renovates the facility for any reason and intends to raise the rent as a result, the department must first approve it.
He explained that the law also requires the department to approve landlords every two years to raise rent in line with the country’s economic situation.
”There are a number of landlords who raise rent without seeking permission from the department. Before we approve the increase, we must inspect the building to ensure that it is fair. A landlord cannot raise rent without our permission.”
Emmanuel Kporsu emphasised that it would be unfair for a landlord to raise the rent when no significant renovations had been completed.
”You cannot stay in your little corner and raise the rent because you own the building. There are laws, and the rent law is not one of them. Several tenants have come to us to report this problem. Rent cannot be raised every six months or once a year. It must be approved first, and it can only be done every two years or when something significant has changed about the facility.”