House rent in the Rajshahi city has doubled in the recent years, causing serious problems to the tenants.
There are allegations that the house owners increase the rent on their whim, flouting the rules in this regard.
According to the Premises Rent Control Act 1991, there should be a written deal between the house owner and the tenant, and the owner should provide money receipt for the rent to the tenant.
Kamruzzaman Shahin, a tenant at Sagorpara of the city, told New Age that in the past two years the house rent in the city increased about 150 per cent.
Salauddin Sumon, another tenant at Ranibazar of the city, said in the city for a house with two bed rooms, one dining room and one kitchen now Tk 3,500 is charged as rent while it was Tk 2,000 only a year ago.
In the recent times, the owners are giving their houses to the students on lease and many houses in the city have turned into student dormitories as in this way the owners get more money.
City dwellers alleged that most of the house owners in Rajshahi city did not make a deal with their clients when they give their houses on lease.
They only make a verbal deal with their consumers and that was the final, and as there is no written deal, the renters are some times forced to give increased rent without any notice.
Shihab Hossain, owner of a house at Rajshahi Saheb Bazar, told New Age that they do not make any written deal with the clients as they maintain good relation with the tenants.
When contacted, M Azhar Ali, chief executive officer of the Rajshahi City Corporation, told New Age that he was not aware of the rental situation in the city.
He also expressed utter ignorance about the rental rules.
