MPs breaking Rent law – Vitus Azeem

Anti-corruption crusader Vitus Azeem has chided Members of Parliament for not practising what they preach by taking lump housing loans for rent when the same group of people are criticizing landlords for charging tenants more than six months advance payments.

The former Director at the Ghana Integrity Initiative(GII) intimated that it was pointless for Parliamentarians to be taking loans for their 4-year term of office when they assume power adding that they were practising double standards.

“… when you look at the benefits that the Parliamentarians get. When they just come in; you get a loan to buy a car, about 50,000 for a house. When we are saying that Parliament should pass a law that forbids landlords from taking rent for more than six months then you officially give parliamentarians 4 years rent advance.”

“Some of them have been there for long and have their own houses, they have cars; they don’t need those loans..” Mr Azeem charged

He indicated that such practices encourage people to view the position as a money-making venture which will culminate into corrupt practices.

There is currently a proposal in Parliament to amend the current Rent ACT 1963, which requires tenants to pay between one to six months advance rent, but landlords demand two years or more instead; a situation many have complained about.