Stop Frustrating Tenants to Vacate Houses

Mr Henry Badoo, Greater Accra Regional Rent Control Officer, yesterday asked landlords to desist from frustrating tenants to vacate rooms and houses they occupy when they have met all tenancy requirements.

He said this is a criminal offence and it is inappropriate for landlords to take the law into their hands.

He said the rent law states in part: "Any landlord who shall do any act whatsoever or refrain from doing anything which the conditions of tenancy requires him to do, with intent to compel the lessee of any premises to give up possession thereof shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction by the appropriate Rent Magistrate, be liable to a fine ..." In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, Mr Badoo noted that the Rent Control Office had received several cases where landlords deliberately, frustrated tenants with the intent of ejecting them.

He cited removal of windows, doors or roofs of the targeted room as some of the inhuman measures adopted by landlords to eject tenants.

Mr Badoo said such actions make life uncomfortable for tenants and are contrary to dictates of tenancy agreements. He stressed that it is the responsibility of the landlord to make life bearable for a tenant.

Mr Badoe said there is no law that compels a landlord to rent his house out but once it is rented out, the law requires that the right thing must be done.