The Rent Control Department has directed private hostel owners and facility managers to suspend all planned increases in accommodation fees for the upcoming 2026/2027 academic year, pending proper rent assessment and stakeholder consultations.
Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku defended the directive, stating that unchecked hikes in hostel fees have become a major concern that can no longer be ignored. He emphasised that hostel accommodation falls squarely within the mandate of the Rent Control Department, and operators must have their facilities assessed before determining new rates.
“There is an emerging issue where hikes in hostel fees are on the rise and we believe that hostel is not out of our mandate,” Mr Opoku said on Citi Eyewitness News on Tuesday, May 19.
“In terms of how much they must charge, you have to make sure that your hostel is assessed before you can come out with any pricing.”
The Commissioner noted that the practice of arbitrary fee increases without assessment had persisted for years, but his administration is committed to fully enforcing the law.
“This is not what we have seen over the years and we believe that the fact that people are breaking this law over the years with impunity does not mean that we must allow it to continue,” he stated.
“Today the tables have turned. I am the new commissioner and my mandate is to ensure that the rent laws of the republic are applied and applied fully and that is what I am doing.”
Mr Opoku rejected suggestions that the department had overstepped its powers, insisting all actions are within its legal mandate. He added that some operators who were allegedly exploiting students have paused their planned increments following the directive, creating room for dialogue.
“That is why people who are acting illegally or exploiting people have stopped so that at least we can engage and take it from there,” he said.
“The baseline is assess your rent before you charge.”
The directive was contained in an official statement issued by the Rent Control Department on Tuesday, May 19. The department announced plans to hold consultations with key stakeholders in the student accommodation sector, including student representative bodies, to agree on fair and lawful pricing mechanisms.