Nungua: 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.
According to Ghana News Agency, the residents 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, 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 due to 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. She explained that most of the alternative accommodations she found were charging over GHs 4,000 per month and required a two-year advance payment. She further noted that in some areas in Tema, landlords were pricing rent in foreign currency, particularly US dollars, while still demanding two years' advance.
She said these financial constraints had compelled her to renew her current tenancy despite the challenges, due to the location's convenience to her workplace and 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, noted that although tenants were aware of the laws, desperation often forced them to comply with the abuses rather than report such cases. She suggested that the President should focus on building more houses for rent at flexible and affordable rates, which would compel house owners to reduce their rates and make payment terms more flexible.
Mr Kwame Mensah, a driver, stated that the fear of losing a potential place to live discourages tenants from challenging landlords. He 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, highlighted that 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. He stressed 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. She mentioned 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.