The rent is not the problem. The advance is.
Accra rent advance calculator
Work out the lump sum a landlord is asking for up front, how much of it exceeds the legal maximum under the Rent Act, and what you would need to save each month.
What the law allows
Section 25(5) of the Rent Act 1963 (Act 220) makes it an offence to demand or receive more than 6 months of rent in advance on a monthly tenancy.
Landlords in Accra routinely ask for 12 months, and often two years.
Why it matters even though nobody enforces it
You will probably pay it. Housing is scarce, landlords set the terms, and the alternative to paying is usually no house.
Knowing the number is still worth something:
- It is grounds for a complaint to the Rent Control Department, which mediates free of charge
- It is leverage when negotiating the length of the advance
- It matters a great deal if the tenancy later goes wrong
Do not forget the rest
The advance is not the whole cost of moving in. Budget separately for the agent commission (usually one month), the tenancy agreement, a polytank at around ₵1,400 if the property has no water storage, and prepaid meter credit.
The rent advance, explained How to find a place Rent advance receipt template