By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah, GNA
Tema, March 25, GNA – Some residents at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama, to prioritise investment in affordable housing to address the growing challenge of excessive rent advance demands by landlords.
The residents said the persistent housing deficits in the country had created a situation where demand far exceeded supply, leaving tenants with little bargaining power.
They added that many landlords continued to demand two or more years of rent advance, despite existing regulations that sought to limit such practices.
In a random survey conducted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the residents described the situation as exploitative, particularly for low- and middle-income earners.
Madam Alice Tetteh, a businesswoman, stated that she was considering leaving her present residence at Nungua Addogono, because of the continuous financial burden of renovating parts of the building with her own resources, as the landlord had failed to respond adequately to her repeated complaints.
Madam Tetteh explained that most of the alternative accommodations she found were charging over GHs 4,000 per month and required a two-year advance payment, further noting that in some areas in Tema, landlords were pricing rent in foreign currency, particularly US dollars, while still demanding two years’ of advance.
She said these financial constraints had compelled her to renew her current tenancy despite the challenges, because the location was only a fifteen-minute drive from her workplace and close to her children’s school.
Madam Tetteh emphasised that increased government investment in the housing sector would be the most effective way to ease the burden on Ghanaians and improve access to affordable housing.
Ms Naomy Adu, a hairstylist, said that although tenants were aware of the laws, desperation often forced them to comply with the abuses, rather than report such cases.
She said, “although the President is urging Ghanaians to report the situation, I think he should rather build more houses for rent at a flexible and affordable rate; that will compel house owners to reduce their rate and make payment flexible without force.”
Mr Kwame Mensah, a driver, stated that the fear of losing a potential place to live discourages tenants from challenging landlords and said many people prefer to remain silent because they worry that reporting the issue could lead to losing the accommodation opportunity altogether.
Miss Adwoa Nyarko, a university graduate, explained that securing employment was already challenging, and the added burden of raising large sums for rent made it even more difficult to achieve independence.
She appealed to the government to invest in affordable housing schemes targeted at young professionals.
Mr Kofi Lartey, a carpenter, said when individuals spend a significant portion of their income on rent advances, they are left with little to support other essential needs or invest in small businesses, stressing that improving access to affordable housing could stimulate economic growth by freeing up disposable income.
Ms Mavis Ofori, a nurse, pointed out that the enforcement of rent regulations remains weak, saying that although there were laws that limited rent advance to six months, compliance was low due to inadequate monitoring and enforcement.
She suggested that government agencies responsible for housing should intensify public education and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/ Christabel Addo