The investigation was meticulously prepared, featuring real people, real events, and real data, aiming to reflect a long-standing and pressing issue: many landlords in a major city deliberately charge students 1.5 to 2 times the regulated electricity price, and some even extort 2.5 times the average. At the end of the investigation, the reporters posed a haunting question: “The majority of students renting rooms come from rural and mountainous areas with difficult family economic conditions. Living in the city means facing all sorts of high costs, and now they have to bear the burden of high electricity prices charged by their landlords. Do the authorities and relevant agencies know about this heartbreaking situation?”

The practice of overcharging students for electricity in rented accommodations will be prevented and dealt with after the Government issues Decree No. 133/2026/ND-CP regulating administrative penalties in the electricity sector, which officially takes effect from May 25, 2026. Accordingly, the decree increases the penalty from 20 to 30 million VND for the act of charging tenants for electricity at a price higher than the regulated rate.

Illustration photo: thanhnien.vn

Let's take a specific example from one locality. In Ho Chi Minh City, there are currently about 1.94 million students and workers renting accommodation in over 110,000 boarding houses. While the retail price of electricity for residential use (tier 3) is currently 2,380 VND/kWh, many landlords have been charging tenants between 3,500 and 5,000 VND/kWh, claiming that this "flat rate" covers the operating costs of elevators, hallway lights, cameras, washing machines, etc. A representative from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade affirmed that this method of charging is against regulations and must stop immediately. Landlords who repeatedly violate this rule will not only be fined 20-30 million VND per violation but will also have to return the excess amount charged compared to the state-regulated electricity price.

It can be said that tightening the management of electricity charges in student dormitories is a practical solution to establish administrative discipline in the field of electricity pricing, while contributing to restoring fairness for students renting accommodation. These students are mostly from rural areas who come to large cities to pursue their studies. Most of them have to carefully save their family allowances and work part-time to cover their living and study expenses in the city. Therefore, anyone who illegally charges students extra fees and charges is inadvertently adding to their difficulties and hardships. This is greedy, unethical behavior that deserves criticism. If any landlord continues to violate this rule, students should speak up and report it to the relevant authorities and competent agencies for timely intervention and strict punishment.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/giao-duc-khoa-hoc/cac-van-de/tra-lai-cong-bang-cho-sinh-vien-thue-nha-tro-1041094