Accra, Aug. 11, GNA - The scramble for rental apartments coupled with arbitrary charges by landlords is becoming a worry to the Rent Control Department as cases keep on mounting daily.

"More people are chasing few houses, hence landlords are charging huge sums of monies, which does not reflect the present economic trends," Mr David Anson Asomani, Principal Rent Officer, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday.

"Some landlords even go as far as to charge in dollars, which is not good for our economy," he said.

Mr Asomani noted that the problem of rent cases were becoming increasingly overwhelming saying, "the situation is such that everyday complaints at the Department rise".

The problems range from tenancy agreement, recovery of possession, absconding, among other things, he said, adding, "the most prevalent one is the recovery of possession".

The Principal Rent Control Officer said most often landlords tended to eject tenants prior to the end of their term of agreement on the premise that a relative was to occupy the room.

"Tenants, who do not have any where to go will be reluctant to quit the room which will inevitably result in a quarrel." Mr Asomani, therefore, urged the public to always report such cases to the Department for redress.

He said victims of arbitrary rent charges reserved the right to call at the Rent Control Department for an assessment of the building to be made.

Mr Asomani said tenants should ensure the provision of necessary facilities before concluding contractual agreements.

He said there was the need to intensify education that would help landlords and tenants to coexist peacefully in order to reduce the problems.

As at 0900 hours on Thursday when the GNA visited the Department it was congested as more than 70 people were waiting to be served.