Out of all the relevant life decisions one may ever make, searching for houses for rent in Accra at one point in time or another may be one of them. The idea of moving into a new space may be exciting but could also be quite daunting.

Perhaps you have intentions of moving to a new space sometime soon or perhaps you’re new to the rent scene or maybe, in the coming year, as part of the usual new year resolutions, you have decided to ‘wean’ yourself off your parents and move out to stay on your own. Here are a few tips to arm yourself with as you begin the process.



Start Searching for Houses for Rent in Accra Well in Advance
Undoubtedly, the search for houses for rent in Accra is not for the “faint hearted”. If you save yourself by using a seamless platform like Meqasa to aid in your housing search, you may spare yourself some trouble, but that notwithstanding, finding a suitable space may take some time. A few options may have to be viewed, negotiated, a few frogs kissed before you find prince charming. Cramming the entire process into a small space of time can be frustrating and stressful.

As much as you can, it is recommended that you start your housing search as early as possible.



Location and Budget
These two factors move very much in tandem with each other and in order to make an informed decision on one while looking through houses for rent in Accra, you need to take the other into consideration. Sort of like the proverbial chicken and egg situation, depending on your situation, it may not be too clear which should take precedence over the other. Your budget could determine your location, or your preferred location could determine your budget, etc.

Take into consideration what your budget is and determine its best corresponding location possible, taking into consideration reasonable proximity, road access, amenities and safety of the house and neighbourhood.



Decide the Property Type
Closely linked to budget and location is the decision of what type of property to rent. There are several types of constructed properties for rent in Accra: apartments, townhouses, self-compound, etc.
Make this decision based on your needs, lifestyle, and preferences. Do you have a family? Do you entertain guests often? Do you work from home? Do you thrive in solitude? Do you crave a sense of community? These can help you determine which type of property to settle on. The type of property can then, perhaps, influence location which will in turn affect budget – one big cycle!



Condition of the Property
In your search for houses for rent in Accra, you may have heard advice that you should rent during the rainy season. The idea is so you can determine firsthand the condition of the space and location when it rains heavily. This advice, albeit sound, could be unrealistic depending on your situation. Also, considering that we have global warming to blame for unpredictable and constantly changing rainy seasons, this advice may be hard to follow.

It may be best then to inspect the property thoroughly, preferably, with a home inspection officer to evaluate the property and rule out all safety issues, structural defects, interior and exterior damages. Be sure to discuss all concerns with the landlord before making a final decision. Check for things like leakages in the plumbing and run basic tests on the electrical system, particularly, the sockets to be certain there are no wiring issues which may cause electric shocks or other serious effects.

Although not exhaustive, these tips expounded above will give you some great insights and guidance as your search for houses to rent in Accra begins.