Cabinet has approved a new Rent Bill and recommended same for the consideration of Parliament.
It is expected that soon, Parliament will also commence its engagements on the Bill to culminate in its successful enactment.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, made this known at a press briefing in Accra last Sunday.
The briefing was to update the media on recent developments in the housing sector.
He said the Bill sought to ensure that a landlord who demands the payment of rent “in advance for more than one month in a monthly tenancy, or a tenancy which is shorter than one month, or more than one year in a tenancy which exceeds one year, commits an offence” clearly identified in the Bill.
The Bill, the minister said, would also ensure that the rights of “vulnerable tenants” who have been out-priced by the uncontrollable hikes in the cost of renting accommodation were safeguarded.
Outdated
Mr Asenso-Boakye said the existing Rent Act, 1963(Act 220) of 1963 and the Rent Control Law 1986 (PNDC Law138) had outlived their relevance due to the current population growth, urbanisation, housing availability, rental rates, housing redistribution and eviction controls, among other several attendant difficulties that have engulfed the housing sector.
“One subject area that has dominated the housing space for decades is the regulation of the rental housing market in Ghana; the existing law was passed by Parliament 59 years ago,” he observed.
The Bill, the minister noted, would, therefore, ultimately remove inherent constraints and offer incentives, which would stimulate private sector investment in the rental-housing sector.
This, he said, would ensure that property developers were not discouraged from investing in the housing industry by rigid rent control mechanisms.
Participate
The minister implored well-meaning Ghanaians to take particular interest in these engagements to ensure the passage of the Bill into law.
This, he explained, could be done by sending their respective views and expectations to their Members of Parliament for the House to consider for its passage into law.
Source: graphiconline.com
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This government didn't mind his own business you destroyed the economy and private jobs and companies now your on private estate you want to destroy, then u have chop a wrong meat my little advice to try and built affordable housing for your people's if u really Care and with this people will sleep road side in tent and in containers
Interesting, why can't government through the state housing company construct enough residential accommodation and rent them out to interested Ghanaians at affordable prices. Today you are coming out with a law that does not favour private landlords. What the minister failed to realize is that a landlord can decide not to offer his house for rent if the law does not take into consideration their concerns. If a tenant pays one month rent to a landlord and a windstorm blows off the roofing sheets, can one month rent buy a packet of roofing sheet looking at how the prices of building materials keep increasing every day? Why can't government complete the seglemi housing project and rent them out to interested tenants be wants to sell them out to a private developer who's sole aim will be to recoup his investment. Nkrumah built the Nyaniba estates in Accra, Colonel Acheampong built the Teshie Nungua estates including lowcsost houses in regional and district capitals then. Go to Tamale, Bolgatanga, Wa, yendi, Bawku, navrongo, lawra, tumu, etc, Acheampong' housing projects are all over the place being occupied by government workers. Today population has increased and one would have thought this is the time for government to accelerate the construction of houses for the people. So with all the book long, phd, masters holders in government you believe a private person can manage national assets better? With all the state resources at your disposal you can't build houses for workers, a farmer goes through hell to put up a house and all you know is to enact a law to regulate them.If building houses is that easy why is government not building some. This bill is like the E-levy, you can force a donkey to the river, however forcing it to drink is another matter. You just can't tell what goes into the thinking of so called politicians in Ghana especially when they are in government. In opposition they look very intelligent, give them power and Hahahaaaa.