University Hostel Fees: Rent Controller Halts Price Increases at Private Facilities For Next Year
- The Rent Control Department has frozen accommodation fees for private student hostels ahead of the 2026/2027 academic year
- The directive was in response to public concerns over rising hostel fees impacting students and families
- Reindolph Afrifa-Oware, a spokesperson of the National Tenants Union of Ghana, welcomed the development in remarks to YEN.com.gh
The Rent Control Department has directed all private student hostel operators to suspend any planned increases in accommodation fees ahead of the 2026/2027 academic year.
The directive will freeze private hostel fees that serve students.
Source: Getty Images
3News reported that this move comes in response to growing public concern over the persistent and steep hikes in student hostel accommodation fees, which the department described as an urgent matter due to the economic burden placed on students, parents, and guardians.
During a recent inspection at the University of Ghana, for example, the Acting Rent Control Commissioner Fredrick Opoku singled out the Viking Hostel for charging what he described as "shameful and exploitative" rates.
He noted that in some instances, two students sharing a room without air conditioning were being charged GHS10,000, a figure he insisted would be reviewed and potentially reversed.
Beyond the freeze, the Rent Commissioner has invited all relevant stakeholders, including private hostel owners, facility managers, operators, student representative bodies, and tertiary institution authorities, to a stakeholder engagement meeting to collectively deliberate on sustainable, fair, and lawful measures regarding hostel pricing and standards.
In comments to YEN.com.gh, Reindolph Afrifa-Oware, a spokesperson of the National Tenants Union of Ghana, welcomed the directive while stressing his group was not anti-business.
Our objective is not to undermine private hostel investment but to ensure fairness, affordability, transparency and lawful accommodation practices for students and citizens across Ghana.
What did the Rent Control statement say?
The full statement read:
"The Office of the Rent Commissioner and the Rent Control Department have, in recent times, taken note of the increasing concerns regarding the continuous hikes in hostel accommodation fees across private hostels within and around Tertiary Institutions in the country.
These persistent increments have become a matter of urgent public concern due to the economic burden placed on students, parents, and guardians. The situation, if not properly regulated and managed, may adversely affect access to accommodation and the general welfare of students pursuing higher education.
In view of the above, the Office of the Rent Commissioner, together with the Rent Control Department, hereby directs all private hostel owners, facility managers, operators, and stake- holders within the student accommodation sector to place a TEMPORAL HOLD on all or any intended or proposed increment in hostel accommodation fees for 2026/2027 academic year until further notice.
Furthermore, all private hostel facility owners, managers, operators, student representative bodies, Tertiary Institution authorities and relevant stakeholders are hereby invited to a stakeholder engagement meeting to discuss the current development within the student accommodation sector and to collectively deliberate on sustainable, fair and lawful measures regarding hostel pricing and standards."
Source: UGC
The Ministry of Education responded to the crisis over tertiary student accommodation by announcing a special committee to look into the matter.
This followed a petition from the National Union of Ghana Students.
Rent Control explains why landlords avoid sanctions
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Rent Control explained that landlords avoid sanctions because tenants often fail to provide evidence of illegal advance rent demands.
The department said the lack of required proof, such as written agreements, made it difficult to prosecute landlords under existing laws.
Ghanaians reacted with frustration, criticising the Rent Control Department’s failure to enforce the laws despite clear regulations.
Source: YEN.com.gh
