Prospective tenants are advised to demand the provision of basic amenities such as toilet facilities and water before they make any payment for accommodation.
According to the Upper East Regional Manager of the Rent Control Department, Adam Yaminu Kasim, homeowners who demand payment from people seeking shelter before they provide such amenities often do not keep their side of the bargain after they receive payment, leaving their tenants with little choice but to live without these basic necessities.
He is, therefore, urging prospective tenants to insist upon the provision of such facilities before they make any payment.
“I will always urge tenants to take time, you may not get a perfect place because it’s not your personal premises but at least, toilet, bath, those are basics in every accommodation and water must also be available. If you go there and there’s no water, and the person tells you ‘cant you see this area, I intend putting a pipe there, so should you pay’, say no way, you have to insist” he advised.
Even if it becomes necessary that a would-be tenant pay in advance for the provision of such amenities, Mr. Yaminu advised that they demand the signing of an agreement that will hold the homeowner to deliver on it.
“Even where it becomes necessary that those facilities are not there and you need to make payment, tell the landlord/lady, ‘lets put into writing, let’s document it and we all put signatures to it’.
At that point, it becomes binding and thereafter, if the landlord/lady fails, you can take the person on, you can bring the person to the office and we will hold the person to the agreement he or she has signed with you to undertake those development”.
Mr. Yaminu believes the absence of toilet and other basic facilities in most homes will be come a thing of the past should tenants adhere to his advice.
“If you insist and the next person comes and insists, the landlord will realize that these things if I don’t provide them, my premises and investment will go waste. So he will be compelled to do it”.
