Reports detailed that some Ashaiman Landlords and Caretakers have been allegedly fingered for demanding sexual favours from female tenants as rent payments.
The information gathered from the Ashaiman Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre discloses this disturbing trend.
According to the report, the finding painst a glaring exploitation within the rental market, against vulnerable women searching for accommodations.
The report alleged that landlords enter into informal arrangements with female tenants, accepting sex instead of money for rent for specified periods.
Additionally, caretakers have also been fingered in the development.
In a new story shared by the Herald read, “One case detailed in the report involved a caretaker who rented out a room to a woman while the property owner was away. After her initial two-year tenancy expired, the caretaker allegedly began a sexual relationship with her and verbally extended her stay by an additional year. The arrangement was reportedly extended again while the relationship continued.
Complications arose when the woman became pregnant by another man. Following the breakdown of the relationship, the caretaker ordered her to vacate the premises. She resisted, insisting there had been a prior agreement allowing her to remain for two more years.
The matter was referred to mediators. During proceedings, the caretaker admitted he was not the property owner and explained that the landlord had instructed him to reclaim the room. The ADR Centre facilitated a settlement, leading to the woman’s relocation after she received compensation from the caretaker”.
The story further added, “In another separate incident cited in the report, a landlord reportedly evicted a male tenant after discovering him in a sexual relationship with his wife.
Beyond these cases, the Centre noted that the majority of disputes it handled were rooted in economic hardship, including rent arrears, unilateral rent increases, and job losses. Other recurring conflicts involved breaches of tenancy agreements, such as keeping pets or accommodating unauthorised visitors”.
Meanwhile, the Ashaiman Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has warned both landlords and tenants to respect tenancy laws by seeking lawful avenues for resolving disputes.
However, back in 2018, the annual 2017 report of the ADR, Ashaiman Centre, also revealed that some landlords in the Ashaiman municipality are reported to be taking rent in the form of sex from female tenants in their homes.
The annual 2017 report stated, “in some cases, landlords exchange rent with sex for a period”.