Gulam Rabbani :
New Year is knocking at the door. Therewith the anxiety is growing among the tenants of the capital city. Because, maximum tenants in the city receive a rent increasing notice from the house owners in the month of December.
Though they get the rent increasing notice every year in December, most of the people’s income does not increase. That is why, tenants stay in fear at the beginning of the year.
The tenants alleged that the house owners always looking for the opportunities to increase the rent on various excuses. Recently, the house owners are bringing forward the price hike of gas and electricity as an excuse to increase the house rent, some tenants alleged, though the tenants pay the bill of gas and electricity separately.
The High Court (HC) has declared a verdict on house rent increasing before two and a half years. But the government has not implemented the verdict yet.
S M Mamun Hossain lives in a mess with some of his friends in Kathal Bagan area of the capital. He does a job in a private company. They pay Tk 15,000 as rent of the flat of two rooms. The house owner noticed them to pay Tk 18,000 from January as the new rent.
Mamun Hossain said, the house owner increased the rent suddenly, though our income has not been increased. Now, we have fallen in a tough situation to provide additional rent.
Ibrar Kanon, a teacher of an English medium school of Banashree area of the city, said, he emerged as a new tenant in a new home in last November. But in December, the house owner noticed him that they would increase the rent to Tk 1000 from the next January. In such a situation, Kanon noticed that he would leave the house after completing the month of January.
“This is very much embarrassing that a house owner will increase the house rent within two months,” said Kanon.
Not only Mamun Hossain or Kanon, many tenants of the city have received the notice of house rent increasing. That is why, they are searching for new homes within their means. They are rolling their eyes to the ‘to-let’ or ‘sub-let’ walking in the lane of the city almost every day.
Some tenants said, the house owners take a large number of money as advance in case of important areas. But the owners do not give any receipt for that money. Even they do not follow any rule to collect the bills of utilities and house maintenance. All happened verbally.
The tenants are not given the appropriate time to leave a rental house in many cases. Especially, if a tenant does not want to pay the increased rent or protest a wrongdoing, then the tenant is asked to leave the house instantly. That is why, the tenants do not want to involve into any argument with the owners.
On July 1, 2015, the High Court ordered police to take steps regarding house rent-related complaints in all the cities, including capital Dhaka.
Responding to a petition, the court also asked the Cabinet Secretary to form a seven-member high-powered commission in six months.
The commission will make necessary recommendations on fixing a standard on the rent amount based on areas and update the House Rent Control Act 1991, the HC said in its order.
The court asked the government to appoint a house rent controller at every ward all over the country for hearing and disposing of the allegations regarding the house rent issues until the commission is formed.
Though the HC order has passed two and a half years, the government has not implemented it yet. No commission has been formed; no rent rate has been fixed. That is why, the house owners are behaving as their wish.
Advocate Monzill Murshid, a Supreme Court lawyer relating to the house rent case, said that they filed the case thinking the problems facing the tenants. After final hearing the court delivered a verdict on the matter. The court ordered to form a commission to settle the rent rate.
“But we have not found yet the certified copy of the judgement as one of the judge of the concern HC bench died before declaring the full text. The Chief Justice has already formed the bench. Hope, the full text of the verdict will release soon. After releasing the full judgement we will be able to take further legal steps,” Monzill also said.
“But the government can form a commission if they want,” he added.
New Year is knocking at the door. Therewith the anxiety is growing among the tenants of the capital city. Because, maximum tenants in the city receive a rent increasing notice from the house owners in the month of December.
Though they get the rent increasing notice every year in December, most of the people’s income does not increase. That is why, tenants stay in fear at the beginning of the year.
The tenants alleged that the house owners always looking for the opportunities to increase the rent on various excuses. Recently, the house owners are bringing forward the price hike of gas and electricity as an excuse to increase the house rent, some tenants alleged, though the tenants pay the bill of gas and electricity separately.
The High Court (HC) has declared a verdict on house rent increasing before two and a half years. But the government has not implemented the verdict yet.
S M Mamun Hossain lives in a mess with some of his friends in Kathal Bagan area of the capital. He does a job in a private company. They pay Tk 15,000 as rent of the flat of two rooms. The house owner noticed them to pay Tk 18,000 from January as the new rent.
Mamun Hossain said, the house owner increased the rent suddenly, though our income has not been increased. Now, we have fallen in a tough situation to provide additional rent.
Ibrar Kanon, a teacher of an English medium school of Banashree area of the city, said, he emerged as a new tenant in a new home in last November. But in December, the house owner noticed him that they would increase the rent to Tk 1000 from the next January. In such a situation, Kanon noticed that he would leave the house after completing the month of January.
“This is very much embarrassing that a house owner will increase the house rent within two months,” said Kanon.
Not only Mamun Hossain or Kanon, many tenants of the city have received the notice of house rent increasing. That is why, they are searching for new homes within their means. They are rolling their eyes to the ‘to-let’ or ‘sub-let’ walking in the lane of the city almost every day.
Some tenants said, the house owners take a large number of money as advance in case of important areas. But the owners do not give any receipt for that money. Even they do not follow any rule to collect the bills of utilities and house maintenance. All happened verbally.
The tenants are not given the appropriate time to leave a rental house in many cases. Especially, if a tenant does not want to pay the increased rent or protest a wrongdoing, then the tenant is asked to leave the house instantly. That is why, the tenants do not want to involve into any argument with the owners.
On July 1, 2015, the High Court ordered police to take steps regarding house rent-related complaints in all the cities, including capital Dhaka.
Responding to a petition, the court also asked the Cabinet Secretary to form a seven-member high-powered commission in six months.
The commission will make necessary recommendations on fixing a standard on the rent amount based on areas and update the House Rent Control Act 1991, the HC said in its order.
The court asked the government to appoint a house rent controller at every ward all over the country for hearing and disposing of the allegations regarding the house rent issues until the commission is formed.
Though the HC order has passed two and a half years, the government has not implemented it yet. No commission has been formed; no rent rate has been fixed. That is why, the house owners are behaving as their wish.
Advocate Monzill Murshid, a Supreme Court lawyer relating to the house rent case, said that they filed the case thinking the problems facing the tenants. After final hearing the court delivered a verdict on the matter. The court ordered to form a commission to settle the rent rate.
“But we have not found yet the certified copy of the judgement as one of the judge of the concern HC bench died before declaring the full text. The Chief Justice has already formed the bench. Hope, the full text of the verdict will release soon. After releasing the full judgement we will be able to take further legal steps,” Monzill also said.
“But the government can form a commission if they want,” he added.
