The Rent Control Department says it will launch a new digital platform to help students report alleged exploitation in the hostel accommodation sector.
Acting Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku announced the initiative during an interview with JoyNews on May 20.
He said the platform will go live on Monday and will give students a direct way to report hostel operators who charge excessive or arbitrary fees.
According to him, the move is part of efforts to strengthen enforcement of rent regulations and protect tenants, especially students in tertiary institutions.
Mr. Opoku stressed that the initiative is backed by law and is not meant to interfere with private businesses.
“We are in a country governed by laws, and the government is responsible for ensuring investors keep confidence in the law,” he said.
He added that the Rent Control Department has a legal mandate to regulate the rental sector and ensure fair practices.
“It is not about interference. Rent Control has the mandate to regulate the system,” he stated.
He explained that hostel pricing must reflect legal and operational factors such as facility conditions, maintenance costs, and investments made by property owners.
He also noted that the Department had not received complaints since issuing a directive to suspend hostel fee increases.
“We have not received any complaints since the directive was issued,” he said.
Mr. Opoku said the new platform will allow students across the country to report violations in real time.
“We are launching a platform that will allow students across the country to report non-compliance,” he stated.
He warned that landlords and hostel operators who ignore the rules will face sanctions.
“There will be no room for profiteering. Anyone who breaches the directive will be dealt with according to the law,” he cautioned.
