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The short answer
A tenant in Kumasi files a complaint in person at the Rent Control office that serves the city, or takes the matter to the Rent Court, bringing the tenancy agreement, Rent Card, receipts and any messages from the landlord. Rent Control said it has enforced the Rent Act's six-month advance limit since 1 April 2026, with a taskforce working through local assemblies, so a complaint about excess advance is now more likely to be acted on.
Who handles rent disputes in Kumasi
Ghana's Rent Control Department deals with complaints between landlords and tenants under the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220). Modern Ghana's May 2026 report tells tenants to report violations to "the nearest Rent Control office or Rent Court", and says a Rent Taskforce operates with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies nationwide. In Kumasi that means the Rent Control office serving the metropolis, which works alongside the city's assembly.
We could not find a published street address or opening hours for the Kumasi office in the sources we checked in October 2026. Ask at the metropolitan assembly offices or call ahead through someone local before you travel across the city; this is the one detail worth confirming on the day.
What you can complain about
- A landlord demanding more than six months' rent in advance for a tenancy longer than six months (two months for shorter tenancies), the limit Modern Ghana describes under section 25(5) of the Act.
- A landlord refusing to issue a Rent Card, which the same report describes as now mandatory.
- Other disputes, such as rent increases, ejection, repairs or the return of money: ask the officer whether Rent Control can mediate or whether the Rent Court is the better route.
- An agent who took money and did not deliver the tenancy (Rent Control can tell you whether it can act or whether this is a police matter).
What to bring
There is no official checklist in the sources we read, so this list is what a Rent Control officer is likely to need to understand your case. Take originals and photocopies.
| Document | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Tenancy agreement (signed) | Shows the rent, term and who the landlord is |
| Rent Card, if issued | Official record of the tenancy |
| Receipts and transfer records | Proves what you paid and when |
| Messages from the landlord or agent | Shows any demand for excess advance |
| Your identification | Passport, and non-citizen Ghana Card if you have one |
| Landlord's name, phone and the property address | So Rent Control can summon them |
Steps
- Write a one-page summary: dates, amounts, what was demanded and what you want (for example, a refund of the excess or a Rent Card).
- Go to the Rent Control office in person with your documents. Ask whether a filing fee applies; we found no published complaint fee.
- The officer will usually record the complaint and invite the landlord to respond. Keep the reference or file number you are given.
- Attend every meeting. If mediation fails, ask about taking the matter to the Rent Court.
- Keep paying rent lawfully due while the matter is open, and keep receipts.
A worked example (illustrative figures)
Example only: Chidi, a Nigerian trader, agrees a two-year tenancy in Kumasi at GH¢1,500 a month and is made to pay 24 months, GH¢36,000, up front. Within the six-month limit he would have paid GH¢9,000 in advance. His summary sheet states the rent, the term, the GH¢36,000 paid on a stated date, the GH¢9,000 the law allowed, and the GH¢27,000 difference he is asking Rent Control to address, either as a refund or as rent credited against later months. Writing the arithmetic down before the meeting keeps the discussion on figures rather than on who is being difficult.
What happens after you file
Reported enforcement since April 2026 gives tenants more weight. Rent Control offices in Accra have refused service to landlords without Rent Cards, and the President has urged tenants to report landlords to the Rent Court. In July 2026 the Daily Graphic reported that OwnKey had launched the FirstKey app, which it says will work with Rent Control to track landlords and agents for prosecution; the article did not describe a complaint route through the app, so file directly with Rent Control rather than relying on it.
Penalties fall on the landlord. The reports differ on the amount (see our note on enforcement and penalties), and neither gives a timetable for how long a complaint takes. Plan for more than one visit.
Where Pryme fits
Evidence wins rent disputes. Paying rent from a Pryme account leaves a record of every transfer, and Pryme's partnership with VerifyDoc.ai lets you generate a verifiable statement that anyone can check is genuine and unaltered. If you need to talk to us about a payment record, use contact.
Questions people ask
Where is the rent control office in Kumasi?
We could not confirm a published address in October 2026. Ask at the Kumasi metropolitan assembly offices or call ahead before you go.
How much does it cost to file a rent complaint in Ghana?
We found no published fee. Ask the officer when you file.
Can a foreigner report a landlord to rent control in Ghana?
Yes. The Rent Act's limits are rules on landlords; nothing in the reporting makes a complaint depend on the tenant's nationality.
What if my landlord in Kumasi ignores rent control?
Ask Rent Control about taking the matter to the Rent Court, and keep paying lawful rent with receipts.
Sources
- Modern Ghana: Six-month rent advance rule: Rent Control finally bites (10 May 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Daily Graphic: New app launched to track landlords charging excess rent advances (27 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
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