What Rent Control does for tenants and landlords
Rent Control applies two laws: the Rent Act 1963 (Act 220) and the Rent Control Law, PNDCL 138. It is headed by the Rent Commissioner and has regional and district offices.
What it does for tenants and landlords:
- Complaints and disputes. Either side can file a complaint, for example about unlawful eviction, unpaid rent, excessive advance or disrepair. Officers try to settle the dispute, and many cases end there without court.
- Registration. Landlords must register residential tenancies with the Department. The time limit is in the figures.
- Rent cards. The Department enforces the duty on landlords to issue rent cards and, since August 2026, asks landlords to show rent-card compliance before it provides them with services.
- Advance rent. It enforces the legal cap on how much rent can be demanded upfront, and from April 2026 announced strict enforcement and invited tenants to report breaches.
- Rent assessment. It can assess a fair rent where one side disputes the amount.
Using Rent Control is usually cheaper and quicker than going to court. Take your tenancy agreement, rent card, receipts and any messages with the landlord or agent.
A new consolidated Rent Act is being drafted to replace both laws; see the proposed-law box.
Differences by region
Rent Control has offices in all regions, with the busiest in Greater Accra and Ashanti. Hostel operators are covered too: the Department said hostels whose arrangements fall under the rent laws must issue rent cards from the start of the academic year that began in 2026.
What to check
- Which Rent Control office covers the area of the property.
- That your tenancy has been registered, if you are a tenant.
- That you have a rent card and receipts for every payment.
- What documents the office asks for before you visit.
Red flags
- A landlord who refuses to issue a rent card or register the tenancy.
- Anyone who claims to act for Rent Control and asks for cash.
- Threats to evict you without going through Rent Control or the courts.
Typical cost or timeline
Time allowed to register a residential tenancy with Rent Control (PNDCL 138, s.4)
14 days after the agreement is made
As of October 2026
Legal cap on advance rent for a tenancy longer than six months
6 months' rent
As of October 2026
Proposed, not yet law
The government plans to repeal the Rent Act 1963 (Act 220) and PNDCL 138 and replace them with one consolidated Rent Act. The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources told Parliament in June 2026 that the bill would be tabled by the end of the year. Its content has not been published, so nothing in it is law. An earlier Rent Bill, approved by Cabinet in November 2022 and sent to the previous Parliament, lapsed when that Parliament ended.
Status: being drafted by the Ministry; not laid in Parliament as of 13 October 2026 (confirmed 13 October 2026).
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Questions
How do I report a landlord to Rent Control?
Go to the Rent Control office for the area with your tenancy agreement, rent card and receipts, and file a complaint. Officers will invite the landlord and try to settle the matter.
What does Rent Control do in Ghana?
It administers the Rent Act and PNDCL 138: it registers tenancies, hears landlord and tenant complaints, assesses fair rent and enforces the cap on advance rent.
Can Rent Control stop a landlord taking two years' advance?
Rent Control treats advance beyond the legal cap as unlawful and has asked tenants to report it. The cap is in the figures on the advance rent page.
Do landlords have to register tenancies with Rent Control?
Yes. PNDCL 138 requires residential tenancies to be registered with the Department, within the time limit shown in the figures.
Is there a new rent law in Ghana?
Not yet. A consolidated Rent Act is being drafted to replace the old laws; see the proposed-law box for its current status.
Related terms
Sources
- 1. No tenancy agreement? Landlords could face GH¢3,000 fine or jail term Graphic Online · checked 13 October 2026
- 2. Rent Control sets Nov 30 deadline for landlords Ghanaian Times · checked 13 October 2026
- 3. Rent Control chief warns landlords of jail or fine for advance rent violations Rainbow Radio Online · checked 13 October 2026
- 4. Report landlords demanding rent advance beyond 6 months – Rent Control Graphic Online · checked 13 October 2026
- 5. 14,586 rent cases settled last year Graphic Online · checked 13 October 2026
- 6. Rent Control Department tightens enforcement of rent laws from August 17 Adom Online · checked 13 October 2026
- 7. Rent Control makes rent cards mandatory for landlords, hostel operators from August 17 MyJoyOnline · checked 13 October 2026
- 8. Gov't to replace outdated rent laws with new consolidated Rent Act Citi Newsroom · checked 13 October 2026
- 9. Government moves to repeal outdated rent laws, introduce modern Rent Act Graphic Online · checked 13 October 2026
- 10. Government to table bill to replace 63-year-old rent control law by year end MyJoyOnline · checked 13 October 2026
Cite this definition
"Rent Control", Ghana Property Centre Property Glossary, last checked 13 October 2026, https://ghanapropertycentre.com/glossary/rent-control
You may reuse this definition under CC BY 4.0 with credit to Ghana Property Centre and a link to this page.
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