Ghanaians Struggling to Pay Rent Advance Can Apply for Government Assistance: Requirements Explained
- Ghanaians struggling to raise huge rent advances can seek assistance through the National Rental Assistance Scheme
- The initiative allows qualified tenants to have their rent advances paid directly to landlords and repay the money monthly
- Applicants must meet specific income requirements and provide supporting documents before receiving approval
- Officials have explained the eligibility requirements, repayment arrangements and plans to expand the initiative
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Many Ghanaians struggling to raise money for rent advances may not know a government-backed initiative exists to help them secure accommodation without paying large sums upfront.
Source: UGC
The National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), introduced in January 2023, provides financial assistance to eligible individuals who cannot immediately afford the advance payments landlords demand.
Instead of tenants struggling to raise one or two years' rent in advance, the scheme pays the required amount directly to their landlords, allowing beneficiaries to repay the money through manageable monthly instalments.
The initiative targets low- and middle-income earners, including workers in both the formal and informal sectors, provided they have a verifiable source of income.
According to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources, the programme is intended to make decent accommodation more accessible to ordinary Ghanaians.
Requirements to qualify for rental assistance
Not every applicant automatically qualifies for assistance, as individuals must satisfy specific conditions before their applications can be approved.
According to the scheme's official guidelines, interested applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Ghanaian citizen aged 18 years or above.
- Possess a valid Ghana Card.
- Have verifiable employment or a regular source of income.
- Provide three months' payslips, where applicable.
- Submit three months' bank statements or mobile money transaction statements.
- Provide two forms of identification.
- Pay a GH₵100 application processing fee.
- Ensure the proposed rent does not exceed 30 per cent of household income.
Self-employed individuals and business owners can also qualify if they provide acceptable financial records demonstrating their ability to make regular repayments.
For instance, under the 30 per cent affordability requirement, a household earning GH₵2,000 monthly would generally need to seek accommodation costing no more than GH₵600 per month.
This means applicants must consider their income before selecting accommodation under the programme.
How to apply for government rent assistance
Interested applicants can visit the official National Rental Assistance Scheme website at www.nras.gov.gh to begin their application.
Applicants must complete the application form and submit the necessary documents for verification.
The scheme indicates that applications are generally assessed within five to ten working days, during which officials examine the applicant's income and ability to repay.
Once approved, officials contact the landlord, inspect the selected property and complete the necessary tenancy documentation before paying the rent advance directly to the property owner.
Beneficiaries then make their repayments to the scheme monthly, with payments due on the first day of each month.
The programme currently operates in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Western, Northern and Bono East regions.
In January 2026, the government disclosed that 2,031 Ghanaians benefited from the programme in 2025, bringing the cumulative number of beneficiaries to 4,732.
Meanwhile, the government has announced a separate EasyRent initiative under the National Housing Fund, expected to launch before the end of 2026.
However, the existing NRAS remains the programme with published application procedures for Ghanaians seeking rental assistance.
How many Ghanaians have benefited?
The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, provided an update on the programme during the Government Accountability Series on January 28, 2026.
According to him, 2,031 Ghanaians received assistance in 2025, increasing the cumulative number of beneficiaries to 4,732 since the scheme's introduction.
He further disclosed that the programme had achieved a recovery rate of approximately 99%.
He said:
"I am glad to state that so far, the disbursement recovery rate is about 99%."
The minister explained that the recovery of funds was helping to sustain the programme and enable continued financial assistance.
He also announced plans to extend the initiative beyond its six operational regions to cover all 16 regions of Ghana.
Currently, the scheme operates in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, Western, Northern and Bono East.
Meanwhile, interested applicants can visit www.nras.gov.gh to complete the application process.
After submitting the necessary documents, applications are generally assessed within five to ten working days.
Successful applicants have their accommodation inspected and rent advances paid directly to their landlords.
They are subsequently required to make monthly repayments to the scheme under the agreed terms.
Rent Control fumes at owners of Vikings Hostel
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Frederick Opoku, the Acting Commissioner of the Rent Control Department, and his team visited Vikings Hostel at the University of Ghana, Legon and tried to meet the owners.
The Acting Commissioner of the Rent Control Department was unhappy with the hostel owners since they failed to show up for a scheduled meeting.
In a video, Frederick Opoku said they received a petition from the National Union of Ghanaian Students (NUGS) about an increase in hostel fees at the university.
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Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
