Rent Control Department directs hostels to suspend planned fee increases for 2026/2027 academic year

The Rent Control Department of Ghana has directed private hostel owners, facility managers, operators, and other stakeholders within the student accommodation sector to halt any intended increase in hostel fees for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The directive was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday, May 19, and signed by the Acting Rent Commissioner, Frederick Opoku.

According to the statement, the suspension is a temporary measure pending consultations with stakeholders on issues relating to hostel pricing and accommodation standards.

The Department explained that it will soon organise a stakeholder engagement involving key players in the student accommodation sector, including student representative bodies, to discuss fair, sustainable, and lawful approaches to hostel fee regulation.

The planned discussions are also expected to address proposed fee adjustments and broader concerns affecting student accommodation across the country.

“The Office of the Rent Commissioner, together with the Rent Control Department, hereby directs all private hostel owners, facility managers, operators, and stakeholders within the student accommodation sector to place a temporary hold on all or any intended or proposed increment in hostel accommodation fees for the 2026/2027 academic year until further notice,” portions of the statement said.