Landlady Rejoice Gblorkpor is urging the government to introduce policies that support landlords financially, as a way of addressing the high rent rates imposed on tenants by some landowners.
Gblorkpor contends that landlords wouldn’t demand two years rent advance, which is against the law, if they had access to loans to help maintain their properties.
In an interview with The Independent Ghana, Gblorkpor argued that the six-month rent advance stipulated by law is not sustainable because some property owners solely depend on rent payments for their daily upkeep, and thus to address the issue of irregular payments, most of them have resorted to yearly advance payments.
However, if the government decided to provide financial support, Gblorkpor believes landowners will not have to rely on tenants to cover building management bills and other personal expenses.
“I think it should be a broader deliberation so that we will understand the reason why we shouldn’t do that and the support they [government] will give some of us.
Section 25 (5) of the rent Act states that “Any person who as a condition of the grant, renewal or continuance of a tenancy demand in the case of a monthly or shorter tenancy, the payment in advance of more than a month’s rent or in the case of a tenancy exceeding six months, the payment in advance of more than six months rent, shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding 500 penalty units which is equivalent to 600cedis or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years.”
However, the issue of landlords/ladies charging exorbitant rates as rent advance payment has been the norm in the country for many years.
While many have described it as illegal given Section 25 Subsection Five of the Rent Act, some Landlords have justified the move with a claim that it is within their mandate to charge any amount they deem fit since there was no government support (in terms of financing) when they (landlords) were constructing their houses.
On her part, Madam Gblokpor, a landlady with about eight rooms leased out, admits that taking the two years rent advance is indeed inordinate, and a great challenge to tenants, however, they are left with no other option, given the country’s economic situation and financial challenges they (landlords) encounter.
“As I sit here, I’m a widow. Now, if I weren’t doing any work apart from the renting business. I’ll find it very difficult,” she stated.
She, thus, called for a stakeholders meeting between the government and Landlord/ladies in the country, over the illegal charge of more than six months rent advance by most landlords in the country.
“So in that case, if the government has a policy or agents who will go to houses and seek their problems. If in six months the money does not reach I’ll support you this way [ in terms of loan] so that when you get the rest of the money we pay back.
“If not and there’s no support it will be something (difficult) because I am lucky to be doing my business. What about those who are not doing their business and are old,” she added.
Source: The Independent Ghana