Rent Act (Rent Act 1963)

The Rent Act is old but remains the core of Ghana's rent law. It works together with the Rent Control Law, PNDCL 138, which added the duty to register tenancies.

The points renters and landlords meet most often:

• Advance rent. The Act caps how much rent a landlord may demand in advance. The cap is in the figures; see advance rent for how it works and how practice differs.
• Agents' commission. It limits what a rent agent may be paid and says who pays. The figure is on the agent commission page.
• Rent cards. Under the Act, landlords of monthly or shorter tenancies must give the tenant a rent card recording the parties and the rent, and Rent Control now enforces rent cards more widely under PNDCL 138.
• Recovery of possession. A landlord who wants a tenant out must have a ground the Act recognises, such as unpaid rent or the landlord's own need for the premises, and must go through Rent Control or the courts.
• Rent Control. The Act sets up the rent officers who hear complaints and assess fair rent.

The Act applies to residential and commercial premises, though its fixed-rent provisions are not used in practice. Penalties for breaking it are discussed by officials with differing figures; see "Sources differ" on the advance rent page.

The government plans to replace the Act and PNDCL 138 with one consolidated law. Until that is passed, the Act stays in force.

Notice to quit. A tenant who must leave is entitled to proper notice and to have any dispute heard by Rent Control or the courts. Changing locks, cutting utilities or removing belongings to force a tenant out is not a lawful way to recover possession.

The Act applies across Ghana. Enforcement is strongest where Rent Control offices are busiest, mainly Greater Accra and Kumasi.