Cape Vars Students to Pay ?800,000 Rent ?

Non-residential students of the University of Cape Coast are to cough ?800,000 as rent for single room accommodation in all the satellite communities near the University.

Chronicle investigations in Cape Coast revealed that the hike of the rent from last year's figure of ?400,000 to ?800,000, up by 100%, was agreed at a consensus meeting of landlords from Apewusika, Kokoado Amamoma and Olla.

A source close to the landlords told the Chronicle that the year's figure agreed upon by the landlord was normal since the prices of building materials have escalated over the past year.

The source said a bag of cement which cost ?18,000 last year, is now selling at ?30,000 and there was therefore, the need for the landlords to adjust their rent accordingly for the year.

Asked why they are charging ?800,000 as rent for one year, he replied, but the government is also charging ?600,000 for single rooms for one year in the halls of residence built some years ago.

He however said landlords are at liberty to charge between ?700,000 and ?800,000 depending upon the type of building.

Many students however, see the present figure being quoted by landlords as unrealistic and out of reach of students, they confided in the Chronicle.

"It is difficult for some of us to bear the rent and what is worrying is the conditionalities being given by some of them that they would charge more if the occupation of the room would be more than three" Michael Ofosu, a freshman lamented.

Ibrahim Ahmed, a third year student of the University dismissed the argument of the landlords that prices of building materials have escalated. "They have been taking the beginning of every academic year as a cocoa season of rent increment. Three years ago they charged ?200,000 last year it was ?400,000 and this year they are saying ?800,000. That to what they have been doing", Ahmed added.

Concern has been expressed over the years over the inability of government to expand facilities at the universities to accommodate the increasing number of students.