The rent control department calls 500 landlords

Regional News of Monday, February 4, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-02-04

The regional office of the Brong-Ahafo Rent Control Department has called about 500 landlords in the Sunyani municipality for renting their premises without registration and not providing rent cards to tenants in 2018.

Mr. Ishmael Kojo Blay Essien, the Regional Manager of Brong-Ahafo Rents, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview with Sunyani.

He added that this summons resulted from a successful regional inspection pilot program aimed at registering leased premises, which began last year.

Mr. Essien explained Law No. 220 of 1963 and Law No. 138 of the Provisional Council of National Defense (PNDC) of 1986, which made the registration of any building compulsory before it could be rented, but the Rents Officer stated that many owners / owners unknowingly had failed to do so.

He added that the ministry would continue the program this year to ensure that landlords who rent their properties, for whatever reason, comply with the law, while those who break the law will be prosecuted.

Mr. Essien mentioned the lack of resources, such as sufficient funds and a vehicle for operations, being the main challenges of the department and appealed to the Regional Coordination Council (RCC) to help the office work effectively.

He suggested paying compensation to the Department's field staff to motivate them to follow the education programs put in place to ensure the achievement of the goals set.

Mr. Essien said that out of 12 municipalities and 17 districts in the region, the department had only four offices, which was insufficient given the amount of work to be done.

He added that the department needed two additional offices in Wamfie in the Dormaa East District and Duayaw-Nkwanta in the Tano North Municipality.

Essien said the region has 400 rent cases reported in 2018 compared with 463 in 2017, showing a decrease in the number of cases.

The reported cases included reimbursement, incitement, recovery of possession, flight, nuisance, rent arrears and damages.

Mr. Essien said that the Department had settled 260 cases, 103 pending, 21 cases referred to the Court, six cases withdrawn and nine closed.

He has appealed to the general public, especially landlords / landlords, for them to cooperate with the rent officers to ensure mental health and peace between landlords and tenants.