A crisis of scarcity and high prices for rental housing in Kabul and other provinces of Afghanistan has made life extremely difficult for many citizens. People say that multiple factors, including the forced expulsion of refugees from Iran and Pakistan and the influx of Taliban officials into cities, have ought this crisis to a peak.
According to residents, the main reasons for this situation include the complex process of obtaining construction permits, the demolition of houses for road construction, the mass migration of Taliban officials and members from rural areas to cities, and limited job opportunities in urban areas. These factors have led to an increase in demand for rental homes and, consequently, a staggering rise in prices.
Citizens also complain about the lack of oversight on rental prices. They say that although the Taliban's Ministry of Justice has set a tariff for rents, there is no supervision of its implementation, and landlords set rent prices and contract terms as they please.
One Kabul resident told our reporter: "The rent for Taliban officials' houses is paid from the public treasury. They rent houses in the cities at whatever price the landlord asks and give the advance payment as the owner wishes. This has made housing scarce for poor people."
This situation has put severe economic pressure on low-income families, who must spend a large portion of their monthly income on rent. Many families have been forced to move to smaller homes farther from city centers or to live with multiple families in one house.
The people are calling on the Taliban government to find an immediate solution to this problem, to prevent uncontrolled price increases through strict supervision of the housing market, and to facilitate more construction to create a balance between supply and demand.
Source: Zarin TV News Sources
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