What a BQ is used for today
The name dates from colonial-era housing, when staff accommodation was built behind the main house. The word "boys" refers to domestic workers of any age, and the name has stuck even though the use has changed.
A BQ today can be anything from a single room with a toilet to a self-contained chamber and hall. It usually stands apart from the main house, at the back or side of the compound, with its own entrance. Common uses are:
- housing a driver, cleaner, security guard or other staff;
- a guest or relatives' flat;
- a rental unit that earns income for the owner.
When you buy a house with a BQ, the BQ is part of the same property and the same title. There is no separate document for it. If you plan to rent it out, the usual tenancy rules apply, including registration with Rent Control.
Ghana Property Centre counts how many houses for sale mention a BQ in their description; see the figure on this page. The figure counts mentions in listing text, so it shows how often sellers advertise a BQ, not a survey of every house.
Renting out a BQ. If you let a BQ, the usual rules apply: a written tenancy agreement, registration with Rent Control and the legal cap on advance rent. A separate electricity meter avoids disputes over bills.
Buying with a BQ. Ask how the BQ was built and when. A BQ added without a permit can cause problems with the assembly or with a lender's valuation.
Differences by region
BQs are most common in Greater Accra's established and newer residential areas, where detached houses on full plots leave room for a separate building. In denser areas and in many regional towns, houses are less likely to have one. Kenya uses the term DSQ (domestic staff quarters) for the same idea.
What to check
- What the BQ contains: rooms, bathroom, kitchen.
- Whether it has its own electricity meter.
- Whether it was built with the main house's building permit or added later.
- If it is let, whether there is a current tenant and a tenancy agreement.
Things to watch for
- A BQ described in the listing but missing from the site plan or permit drawings.
- A sitting tenant you were not told about.
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Questions
What does BQ mean in Ghana?
BQ stands for boys' quarters, a separate small dwelling on the same plot as a main house, originally for domestic staff.
Can I rent out my boys' quarters?
Yes, many owners do. The tenancy follows the normal rent laws, so register it with Rent Control and give the tenant a written agreement.
Does a boys' quarters have its own title?
No. It sits on the same plot and is covered by the same indenture or land title certificate as the main house.
How common are houses with a BQ?
See the listing figure on this page, which shows the share of houses for sale whose description mentions a BQ.
Is a BQ the same as a self-contained flat?
Often it is a small self-contained unit, but the term only says it is a separate dwelling on the plot. Check what it contains.
Related terms
Cite this definition
"Boys' quarters", Ghana Property Centre Property Glossary, last checked 13 October 2026, https://ghanapropertycentre.com/glossary/boys-quarters
You may reuse this definition under CC BY 4.0 with credit to Ghana Property Centre and a link to this page.
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