The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has announced that the government will submit a new Rent Bill to Parliament before the end of the year to repeal and replace Ghana’s decades-old rent control legislation with a modern legal framework aimed at addressing current housing challenges.
Addressing Parliament on Thursday, June 26, Mr. Adjei said the Ministry has begun a comprehensive review of the country’s rent laws, describing the existing regulatory framework as outdated and no longer responsive to the realities of Ghana’s evolving housing market. He noted that the current laws have been in force for more than six decades and require significant reforms to meet present-day demands.
According to the Minister, the review seeks to repeal the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220), as amended, together with the Rent Control Law, 1986 (PNDCL 138), and replace them with a single Consolidated Rent Act. He explained that the proposed legislation will harmonise Ghana’s rental laws into a modern legal framework that promotes fairness, transparency and efficiency within the housing sector.
Mr. Adjei said the proposed reforms are designed to address longstanding challenges in the rental market by creating an environment that encourages greater private sector investment in housing while ensuring stronger protection for tenants. He stressed that the legislation would particularly safeguard low-income and vulnerable households against arbitrary rent increases, exploitation and other unfair rental practices.
At the same time, the Minister noted that the new legal framework will strike a balance by protecting the legitimate rights and interests of landlords and property owners. According to him, the objective is to create a fair and sustainable rental regime that benefits both tenants and landlords while supporting the growth of Ghana’s housing sector.
Mr. Adjei disclosed that drafting of the proposed legislation is at an advanced stage and will soon be submitted to Cabinet for approval before being laid before Parliament for consideration. He expressed confidence that the new law will modernise Ghana’s rent administration system and help resolve persistent disputes and regulatory gaps within the country’s rental housing market.
The proposed Consolidated Rent Act forms part of the government’s broader efforts to reform Ghana’s housing sector, improve access to decent accommodation and establish a more transparent, efficient and balanced rental system capable of meeting the needs of both property owners and tenants.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe
