The Rent Control Department has announced stricter enforcement of rent laws, requiring landlords and property owners to demonstrate compliance with mandatory rent-card requirements when accessing services from the Department from August 17, 2026.

The Department has also directed landlords to regularise the registration of their tenancies and property information by November 30, 2026, while hostel operators will be required to comply with applicable rent-control rules from the 2026/2027 academic year.

In a statement issued on Monday, August 10, Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku said the measures form part of efforts to improve transparency, accountability and tenant protection within Ghana’s rental sector.

The Department stressed that issuing a rent card is not a new requirement but a statutory obligation under Ghana’s existing rent laws.

Under Section 20(1) of the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220), landlords of premises let on a monthly or shorter tenancy are required to issue tenants with a rent card within seven days after the tenancy begins.

The card must contain the names and addresses of the landlord and tenant as well as the amount of rent payable.

The Rent Control Law, 1986 (PNDCL 138), also requires landlords of residential accommodation covered by the law to issue rent cards and provide the relevant Rent Control Department office with details of their tenants and rents paid.

From August 17, landlords seeking services from the Department must, where applicable, provide evidence that they have complied with the requirement.

"Where a landlord is unable to provide satisfactory evidence of the issuance and maintenance of the required rent card, the Department may decline to process or provide the relevant administrative service until the statutory obligation has been regularised," the Department warned.

Landlords have also been reminded of the requirement to register tenancy and lease agreements.

Section 4 of PNDCL 138 requires residential landlords to register every lease or tenancy agreement with the Rent Control Department within 14 days of entering into the agreement.

The law also provides that a landlord cannot demand or receive rent for such accommodation without complying with the registration requirement.

The Department has therefore directed landlords and property owners to regularise their registration and property records by November 30, 2026.

Failure to do so could result in applications for administrative services being deferred or declined until the necessary documentation has been submitted and verified.

The Department has also clarified that student accommodation providers are not automatically exempt from Ghana’s rent-control framework simply because they operate hostels.

From the 2026/2027 academic year, hostel operators whose accommodation arrangements fall under the applicable rent laws will be required to issue prescribed rent cards to student tenants and comply with relevant registration requirements.

They will also be expected to maintain records of student tenants, accommodation occupied, rent payable, tenancy periods and other information required by law.

The Rent Control Department said it will engage tertiary institutions, student representative bodies, hostel associations, local authorities and other regulators to support the implementation.

The Department warned that failure to comply with rent-card and registration requirements is a legal matter and not merely an administrative issue.

Under PNDCL 138, infringement of the relevant provisions constitutes an offence.

The law also provides that a landlord's complaint or action against a tenant shall not be heard by the Rent Control Department unless the Department is satisfied that the landlord has fulfilled the required obligations.

The Department said it will progressively intensify monitoring, inspections, registration and compliance activities across the country.

It said its approach would initially focus on education and giving landlords and hostel operators a reasonable opportunity to regularise their affairs, while taking action against persistent or deliberate violations.

"The Department will adopt an education-first but enforcement-backed approach, giving landlords and hostel operators reasonable opportunity to regularise their affairs while taking appropriate action against persistent or deliberate violations of the law," it said.

The Rent Control Department said proper documentation of rental arrangements would improve accountability, dispute resolution and tenant protection while promoting responsible property management.