Securing affordable rental accommodation in Ghana’s urban centres has become an increasingly daunting challenge for many young people. From university students to early-career professionals and young families, the deepening housing crisis is driving many into financial hardship—and, in some cases, into the clutches of fraudsters. Soaring rent prices, combined with landlords’ demands for one to two years’ advance payment, have created a volatile market where desperation often overrides due diligence.
One such case involves 22-year-old Gladys and five fellow students, who believed they had successfully rented a chamber and hall apartment in Accra’s Osu enclave. After paying GH₵24,960 to an agent and a landlord who appeared legitimate—complete with receipts, photographs, and a set of keys—they returned to move in, only to find the locks changed and another tenant already occupying the space. The supposed agent and landlord had disappeared without a trace.
The story of these ladies is one of many in a growing trend of rental fraud, where fake agents and self-proclaimed landlords vanish after collecting money from unsuspecting tenants. Beyond scams, cases of double renting are also on the rise. In some instances, multiple tenants are issued receipts for the same property, leading to disputes, police involvement, and in some cases, violence.
Dorcas, a newly posted nurse in Accra, paid for a rental room only to be alerted by a carpenter—sent to install fittings—that another man had arrived at the property claiming ownership and demanding the work be halted. Investigations later revealed that Dorcas had been defrauded. Although the perpetrator was found guilty and ordered to refund her, the funds had already been spent, leaving her stranded in the capital. She has since been forced to lodge temporarily at her younger sister’s school hostel.
Officials from the Rent Control Department say such incidents are becoming alarmingly frequent, with dozens of monthly complaints involving rental fraud and double-letting schemes. The average rent for a single room in Accra now ranges between ₵1,000 and ₵2,000 a month, depending on locatio,n and landlords typically demand payment for two years in advance. For many young workers, earning less than ₵1,500 a month is nearly impossible.
They tend to share small rooms with friends in order to cope. Landlords, on the other hand, say inflation and rising maintenance costs leave them with little choice, so taking one year or a minimum of that advancement will run them at a loss. Housing experts have constantly highlighted that Ghana’s rental system is unsustainable. They’re calling for the Rent Act to be fully enforced, and for affordable housing projects to target low- and middle-income earners.
The Government must regulate the rental market because affordable housing is not a privilege but a right. There must also be a crackdown on fake agents because until that happens, thousands of young Ghanaians will continue to race for shelter, navigating high prices, fake agents, and an increasingly uncertain housing future. Tenants on the other hand must also verify property ownership at the Lands Commission or Rent Control before making any payments. Until these steps are considered, the rent race will continue to be a hurdle in urban areas.
Source: Mercy Lokko Adjei Sarfo
