Landlords can be jailed for forcefully ejecting tenants

Property owners and landlords have been asked to channel their grievances and complaints about their tenants to the appropriate authority which is the Rent control Office rather than taking the law into their own hands.

Mr P.S. Deh, the Principal Rent Officer, of the Western Region was speaking on the Jolly Breakfast Show on Skyy Power 93.5FM on Monday, April 4, on the endless battle between landlords and tenants.

He said the Rent Control Office is the authority mandated by the government to deal with disputes between tenants and landlords and refusal to seek their advice and guidance could lead to prosecution in court.

He further revealed that landlords can be fined or jailed for forcefully ejecting tenants without engaging the Rent Control office.

He said, “If a landlord is willing to eject a tenant, he or she has no right to forcefully do that, they will need to engage the Rent Control to do that work.”

“According to section 27 of the rent act, a landlord can go to prison for forcefully ejecting a tenant without engaging the Rent Control. Even if a tenant owes rent, makes noise or engages in any sort of illicit activity, no one has the right except for the rent control to eject that person.”

“If a tenant reports a landlord and the issue reaches court, the landlord can go to jail for that.” Mr Deh added.