Top 10 Common Disputes Between Tenants and Landlords in Ghana

Rental disputes in Ghana frequently arise between landlords and tenants, and occasionally between tenants themselves. Leasing to the right tenant in Ghana is crucial to keep your rental property occupied and profitable. While sometimes tenant turnover in Ghana is out of your hands, costs can get out of hand if you are not vigilant. 

The following are the most common landlord-tenant disputes in Ghana that lead to eviction. Landlords' least favorite word. Fortunately, with this guide, you can spot them before they arise. That's knowing what to expect and how to manage them effectively to ensure your real estate investment remains lucrative, your tenants stay satisfied, and your stress level remains low.

Common Disputes Between Tenants and Landlords in Ghana

1. Rent Payment Issues

Rent payment disputes are often considered one of the most common landlord-tenant conflicts in Ghana. While the majority of landlords in Ghana increase rent every year, few of them do so at the end of the lease agreement. Unexpected rent increases by Ghanaian landlords often create rental tension. Some of the common Causes of rent payment issues in Ghana include tenants' untimely rent payment and unexpected rent increases without proper notice.

2. Security Deposit Issues

In Ghana majority of renters dont like the idea of paying security deposits, not because they don't want to pay, but because they dont see the need to pay it. In rental agreements, trust plays a key role in avoiding landlord-tenant disputes, especially when it comes to security deposits. The question regarding how to handle security deposit disputes has always been one of the biggest concerns for both parties. The common ones include a situation where a tenant disagrees with some deductions for damages, and landlords delaying deposit refunds.

3. Maintenance and Repairs Disputes

If there is one thing that irritates tenants in Ghana, it has to do with poor property maintenance and repairs by landlords. A significant cause of stress is the resolution of repairs, with the majority of tenants in Ghana saying landlords who are rude about making repairs frustrate them more than rent increases. Some common causes may include slow or unaddressed repair requests, disagreements over who is responsible for specific repairs, and differing views on what constitutes an emergency repair.

4. Noise and Nuisance Complaints

Noise complaints in rental property management are normal. What is not normal is the disputes it causes between tenants and landlords, and occasionally among tenants themselves. The common causes are Loud music, parties, or disturbances late at night, and sometimes conflicts between multiple tenants in the same building. Handling tenant noise complaints in Ghana starts with clear communication and mutual understanding. 

5. Breach of Tenancy Terms

Another serious landlord-tenant dispute has to do with tenants violating any of the lease agreement clauses or landlords in Ghana breaching clauses about a tenant's right to quiet enjoyment of rental property. In this case, it becomes a legal issue, and both parties can either sue or be sued.

6. Illegal Eviction Practices

The rental law in Ghana does not permit harassment and illegal tenant evictions. Given this, cases where landlords resort to harassment tactics or an unlawful eviction process that are capable of violating the tenant's rights, the tenant can seek redress at the rent control department. The common causes include tenants failing to pay rent or repeatedly violating the lease terms, landlords not following the proper legal eviction process, and tenants refusing to vacate after the lease has ended.

7. Privacy and Entry Rights

Rental spaces become tenants' homes, and they value their privacy. While landlords in Ghana are responsible for maintaining their rental properties, tenants ought to take care of them. Though prompt property maintenance is a priority for most renters, it is important that landlords respect tenants' privacy by giving prior notice. Landlords have to balance between respecting Ghanaian tenants' privacy and conducting necessary inspections.

8. Tenant Damage to Property

In situations where tenants in Accra have willfully or negligently caused damage to the rental property beyond normal wear and tear. This often results in landlord-tenant disputes in Ghana. Usually, when this happens, the landlord will opt to evict the tenant irrespective of the cost of the eviction.

How to Handle Landlord-Tenant Disputes in Ghana

In Ghana, whether avoiding disputes before they arise or managing disagreements with or between tenants, a landlord in Ghana must always maintain clear, consistent, and respectful communication. In any lease agreement, you can decide to incorporate some common tenant issues before they occur. Then, when disputes arise, you’ll reference previously signed paperwork to remind tenants of what they’ve agreed on. 

While many tenant disputes are resolved privately, persistent conflicts between neighbors may require your intervention as a landlord. In such cases, it is important to be prepared to mediate effectively, impartially, and with consideration. Because failure to do so may irritate one party, and that can create another dispute.