The Department of Rent Control of Ghana has announced that the issuance and proper maintenance of rent cards for all tenancy agreements remains a legal requirement, warning landlords to comply or face sanctions under existing rent laws.
In a press release signed by Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku, the department said the directive is grounded in the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220), section 20, and the Provisional National Defence Council Law (PNDCL 138), 1986, section 5.
The statement forms part of ongoing institutional reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and compliance in rent administration across Ghana.
The department announced that effective April 1, 2026, every landlord must issue an official rent card to each tenant at the start of a tenancy. Landlords are also required to record all rent payments accurately in the rent card.
According to the Rent Commissioner’s office, the move is intended to promote proper documentation of rental transactions and reduce disputes between landlords and tenants.
The directive further states that beginning April 1, landlords who appear before any Rent Control office without proof that they have issued rent cards to their tenants will not receive services.
Affected services include:
Rent assessment applications
Rent dispute resolution
Recovery of premises proceedings
Complaints against tenants
Settlement processes
The department stressed that compliance will be a prerequisite for all official engagements.
The Rent Control Department warned that landlords who fail to issue rent cards will be considered in breach of statutory obligations and may face sanctions prescribed under Act 220 and related regulations.
Officials emphasised that enforcement will be carried out fairly and professionally, without fear or favour.
The Rent Commissioner’s office is urging landlords, tenants, estate managers, and all stakeholders to cooperate fully with the directive, describing it as a necessary step toward orderly and transparent rent administration nationwide.
The department reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that rent laws are properly enforced to protect the interests of both landlords and tenants.
