Some residents of Kabul say that with the start of the new year, rental homes have become increasingly scarce, while prices have risen significantly.
Some tenants told Hasht-e-Subh Daily on Sunday, April 12, that landlords have raised rents without observing any “law” or principles.
Hasht-e-Subh Daily spoke with at least five tenants searching for rental homes, who described confusion and an inability to afford rent.
These individuals, speaking on condition of anonymity, say landlords have increased prices in collusion with the Taliban, as this allows the Taliban to collect higher taxes.
These tenants say landlords have raised rents and warned that if they are unable to pay, they must vacate the houses.
They note that there is no regulatory body to control the rising rental prices.
They say that a two-room house previously cost around 7,000 to 8,000 Afghanis, but now it has risen to 13,000, 14,000, and even 15,000 Afghanis.
Similarly, three-room houses that cost around 10,000 to 12,000 Afghanis two years ago are now priced at 20,000 to 21,000 Afghanis.
Tenants add that even after great effort, they cannot find housing, as rental prices have increased significantly across all areas of Kabul city.
They add that landlords, in coordination with real estate agencies, underreport prices to the Taliban, but charge tenants more through separate and informal agreements.
Although the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice has repeatedly spoken about monitoring real estate agencies, these measures have had no impact on the rising rental prices.
