President John Dramani Mahama has urged tenants to report landlords who demand more than six months’ rent in advance to the Rent Court.

Speaking at a dialogue with organised labour at Jubilee House, he said some private property owners are exploiting tenants by insisting on as much as two years’ advance rent because of the housing deficit. 

He stressed that such advance payments are placing a heavy burden on household incomes.

"Housing is a major problem and the reason why private house owners are taking advantage is because of the deficit in housing and so we have the rent court we say don't take more than six months of advance of house renting, he say pay two years advance, you can go and report him to the Rent Court and we'll hold that landlord accountable," he stated.

President Mahama noted that many countries have implemented successful social housing policies, citing Kenya as an example, where thousands of housing units have been built and either rented or sold to employees. 

He further assured that the government will hold a national housing dialogue with the private housing sector and labour to develop a social housing policy that will ensure affordable homes for workers, either to buy on mortgage or to rent at favourable rates.

"We need to have a National housing dialogue and decide how between the private sector, government and labour can come together and come out with a social housing policy to make sure that we provide affordable houses for workers," he stated.