FE REPORT
The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on Tuesday issued a 16-point guideline on house rent, including a provision that rent cannot be increased within two years of a hike.
The authorities have also capped annual rent increases at 15 per cent of the property's value.
Under the guidelines, tenants will have the right to enter the rented house at any time.
If a landlord takes any action for security or discipline, they must inform the tenant and obtain consent before implementation.
DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz unveiled the guidelines at a press conference at Nagar Bhaban in Gulshan-2.
The guidelines have been formulated in line with the House Rent Control Act, 1991.
DNCC also asked landlords not to increase rent on a calendar-year basis, such as in January.
Instead, rent revisions should be made during June-July, when the city corporation assesses house tax, and rent should be determined based on that assessment.
Afterward, rent can be revised through standard or bilateral negotiations.
Both landlords and tenants must follow the guidelines.
Any disputes related to house rent can be reported to the respective regional executive officer of DNCC for resolution.
Azaz said that although around 35 million people currently live in Dhaka Metropolitan City, the total number of house owners or landlords in Dhaka North and South is no more than 2.0 to 2.5 million.
"Due to rural-urban migration, personal migration, and the concentration of administrative and other facilities in Dhaka, pressure on the city is increasing, with the housing sector being the most affected," he said.
Various studies show that spending up to 30 per cent of income on housing is considered acceptable in cities.
However, in many cases in Dhaka, people are forced to spend 50 to 60 per cent of their income on house rent, according to DNCC.
The DNCC administrator said repeated rent hikes are occurring due to the complexity and ambiguity in implementing the House Rent Control Act, 1991, and the slow enforcement process at the local government level.
At the same time, insufficient importance has been given to protecting the rights of people who earn a living by renting out houses, he added.
"The new guidelines aim to protect the rights of tenants and house owners and reduce rent-related harassment," Azaz said.
The guidelines include uninterrupted utility connections and daily household waste collection.
Landlords and tenants, subject to the landlord's prior approval, will undertake greenery initiatives on rooftops, verandas, and open spaces in front of houses.
For safety reasons, including fire and earthquake risks, landlords must provide keys to the rooftop and main gate to each tenant.
Tenants must pay rent by the 10th of every month. Written rental agreements must clearly mention rent conditions, rent increase clauses, advance deposits, and vacating terms.
When renting a house, landlords may not take more than one to three months' rent as advance.
Any dispute should first be resolved through discussions between ward- or zone-based landlords' and tenants' associations.
If unresolved, the matter should be reported to the regional executive officer of the city corporation.
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