The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) is to establish a Student Rent Support Help Desk to assist students facing challenges with private accommodation, following an engagement with the Rent Control Department.
The proposed help desk will provide students with guidance on tenancy agreements, rent charges, landlord-tenant relations and disputes involving private landlords and hostel operators.
The Acting Rent Control Commissioner, Mr Frederick Opoku, made the proposal when he led officials of the Rent Control Department in the Bono Region to engage the University in Sunyani.
The meeting, hosted by the Dean of Students Office, brought together university officials, representatives of the Rent Control Department and the Students’ Representative Council (SRC).
Mr Opoku urged the University to establish the help desk at the Dean of Students Office as a dedicated channel through which students could obtain professional advice on rental matters and seek assistance when disputes arise.
He also called for closer collaboration between the Rent Control Department, the Dean of Students Office and the University’s various halls of residence to safeguard student welfare.
The initiative comes amid growing demand for accommodation at UENR, where limited on-campus housing means many students depend on private landlords and hostel operators.
This exposes some students to challenges including high accommodation charges, unfavourable tenancy arrangements and disputes with landlords.
The proposed collaboration is expected to give students greater knowledge of their rights and responsibilities under Ghana’s rent laws while providing institutional support in dealing with accommodation-related problems.
Mr Opoku said the Rent Control Department was prepared to work with UENR across its campuses, particularly the Sunyani and Dormaa campuses, to address student accommodation concerns and ensure that students receive value for money.
The Department is mandated under the Rent Act, 1963 (Act 220) to regulate rent, prevent unlawful eviction and promote fair tenancy arrangements. It also facilitates the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants and enforces relevant provisions governing rental arrangements.
The delegation subsequently met the SRC leadership, led by the SRC President, Mr Abdulai Zakaria, where student representatives raised accommodation concerns and were briefed on the legal and administrative framework governing landlord-tenant relationships.
MoU planned
UENR and the Rent Control Department are also preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise the partnership and establish a framework for sustained cooperation on student accommodation and welfare.
The proposed agreement is expected to strengthen student support services and facilitate closer institutional engagement in addressing rental challenges.
The Rent Control Department also outlined efforts to modernise housing administration through data and technology, including secure API access for authorised government agencies to verify relevant rental and housing information.
The Dean of Students Office said the University remained committed to working with relevant institutions to address issues affecting the safety, welfare and wellbeing of students.
The proposed help desk and MoU are expected to strengthen protection for students who live off campus and provide them with a more structured avenue for resolving rental-related challenges.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
