Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), has introduced revised guidelines for private hostel accommodation ahead of the 2026/2027 academic session, making property registration and pre-inspection compulsory for landlords seeking to accommodate students.
The new regulations were issued by the university’s Students’ Affairs Division through its Private Hostel Unit and are aimed at improving accommodation standards, regulating hostel allocation and protecting students from problems associated with private accommodation.
The review followed complaints from students, including cases where students paid for accommodation but were not allocated rooms and situations where landlords failed to complete promised repairs after receiving payment.
Landlords to register properties
Under the new arrangement, all landlords are required to register their properties with the Private Hostel Unit and provide details of rooms available for rent.
The university also directed landlords and hostel caretakers to ensure that their facilities are habitable before inspection.
According to the guidelines, inspection will be conducted at least two months before the commencement of each academic session. Facilities considered unsuitable for student accommodation must be renovated, failing which their approval could be withdrawn.
Approved private hostels are also expected to provide adequate waste-disposal facilities, security personnel and locked kitchen facilities for residents.
The university has further prohibited landlords from imposing agency fees on students, stressing that students should pay only the agreed rent.
Students must obtain verification before payment
Students seeking accommodation in private hostels are now required to complete an official application form and submit it to the Private Hostel Unit for verification before making any payment.
The Unit will charge landlords and caretakers an administrative fee of ₦2,000 per application.
The university also warned students against making payments to individuals or intermediaries unless specifically instructed to do so by the Private Hostel Unit.
Rules on conduct
The revised guidelines also prescribe rules governing students’ conduct within private hostels.
Cooking inside rooms is prohibited, while the use of electric cookers is restricted to circumstances permitted under the university’s regulations.
Unauthorised gatherings, including church services and meetings of clubs or societies, are also prohibited within hostel premises.
The university further prohibits activities it considers social vices, including smoking, alcohol consumption, gambling, fighting and cultism.
The guidelines also prohibit opposite-sex visits and expressly condemn homosexual and lesbian activities within the hostels.
Students below the age of 18 are not permitted to reside in the private hostels covered by the regulations.
Monthly sanitation made compulsory
The university has introduced mandatory monthly sanitation exercises for residents as part of measures to improve hygiene and the general condition of private accommodation facilities.
Landlords and caretakers have been directed to monitor compliance, while defaulters are to be reported to the Private Hostel Unit for appropriate action.
The university warned that students who violate the regulations could face eviction from private hostels or further disciplinary measures in accordance with its regulations.
The new framework is expected to give UDUS greater oversight of private student accommodation while providing prospective residents with a formal verification process before committing their money to hostel operators.
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