Students and professionals in hostels and PG accommodations in Tamil Nadu will see a 10% increase in rents due to higher commercial LPG cylinder prices. The new rates, effective from May 5, are a response to the escalating costs of food preparation.
Monthly tariffs for non-air-conditioned accommodations have been revised, with four-sharing rooms now priced between Rs 6,500 and Rs 7,500, and three-sharing rooms ranging from Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000. Two-sharing accommodations are expected to cost between Rs 8,000 and Rs 9,000, with variations based on location, amenities, and demand.
Operators attribute the rent hike to the significant increase in 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder prices. The surge in costs has led to operators exploring alternative cooking methods like firewood, but rising substitute prices have made these unsustainable, resulting in passing on the burden to residents through rent increases and service cutbacks.
The state has over 20,000 hostels with nearly 20 lakh residents, a substantial number in Chennai. Rising costs have forced some hostels to reduce food services or discontinue items with high fuel consumption, impacting residents who now rely on outside food options, leading to increased monthly expenses.
