The Rent Control Department (RCD) has directed the University of Ghana Enterprises Limited (UGEL) and all private hostel owners and operators across Ghana to immediately suspend rent increases implemented without the requisite legal assessment and refund excess rent collected from affected tenants by November 17, 2026.
The directive, issued on Monday, November 2, follows a petition by the University of Ghana Students’ Representative Council (UGSRC) challenging proposed residential fee increases by UGEL.
In a press release signed by Acting Rent Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, the Department said it had considered the students’ petition, together with UGEL’s response, before extending the directive to all private hostel operators nationwide.
The Department stressed that private hostel accommodation falling within the scope of Ghana’s rent laws is subject to its regulatory oversight, regardless of whether such facilities are described as private hostels or student accommodation.
It cited the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220), and the Rent Control Act, 1986 (PNDCL 138), as the legal framework governing the regulation of applicable rental arrangements.
Under the directive, affected operators have been ordered to immediately stop implementing and collecting rent increases that have not undergone the legally required assessment process.
They are also required to restore and maintain the previous rental rates until the applicable assessment process is completed and all statutory requirements for introducing revised rents have been satisfied.
The Department further directed operators to refund the excess amounts actually paid by students and other tenants as a result of the increases.
The refund, it explained, must cover only the difference between the previous rental rates and the increased amounts paid, excluding the original rent and other legitimate charges unrelated to the increases.
The 14-day refund period commences on November 3 and ends on November 17, 2026.
Operators have also been instructed to identify affected tenants, calculate the excess payments, issue full refunds and retain documentary evidence of the transactions for verification by the Department.
PROTECTION OF TENANTS
In a strong warning to hostel operators, the Rent Control Department cautioned against intimidating, threatening, harassing, penalising or victimising tenants who challenge rent increases, demand refunds or report suspected violations.
It said operators must not resort to threats of eviction, denial of accommodation or other unlawful measures to compel tenants to accept unassessed rent increases or abandon complaints.
The Department specifically referenced Section 27(1) of Act 220, which addresses conduct intended to compel a tenant to surrender possession of rented premises.
It emphasised that landlords and hostel operators must respect tenants’ rights and follow the legally prescribed procedures for recovering possession of accommodation.
ENFORCEMENT ACTION
The Department disclosed that it would intensify monitoring and enforcement activities through inspections, examination of tenancy and payment records, verification of refunds and investigations into complaints.
It also put operators on notice of relevant provisions of Act 220, including Sections 25(1b), 25(1)(d), 26(1) and 27(1), warning that conduct constituting offences under the applicable legislation could attract the prescribed legal consequences.
All affected operators are expected to cooperate fully with compliance inspections and verification exercises.
The Department clarified that the directive is not limited to UGEL or accommodation facilities affiliated with the University of Ghana but applies nationwide to all private hostel owners and operators whose accommodation falls within the scope of Ghana’s rent laws.
It warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract appropriate enforcement action in accordance with the law.
The Rent Control Department has consequently called for immediate compliance, insisting that all affected operators must suspend unassessed rent increases and refund excess rent collected by November 17, 2026.
