adminunwarranted rental increases.
National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Giles Mutsekwa told journalists yesterday that landlords should take heed of the warning or risk a blanket freeze on increases.
“It seems most landlords have developed a culture of unjustly increasing rentals without considering the plight of their tenants as well as the impact this trend will cause on the economy,” he said.
Minister Mutsekwa said landlords were increasing rentals as was evident in the influx of cases being handled by the Rent Boards involving the eviction of tenants for failing to pay rent.
Landlords in urban areas have increased rents following the modest salary increment for civil servants in July.
Other affected tenants include university students who are charged per person.
Midlands State University students in Gweru, for example, are charged US$50 per head whilst sharing a single room in Senga high density suburb. Students at Chinhoyi University of Technology residing in Cold Stream pay US$75 per head.
Minister Mutsekwa said the landlords were contravening the Rent Regulations, Statutory Instrument 32 of 2007 by unilaterally and clandestinely making such increases.
“They are ignoring reasonable concerns from their tenants and instead, some landlords are illegally evicting those who object to unwarranted increases. I wish to make it known to the public in general that in terms of the Rent Regulations it is illegal for a landlord to evict a tenant because he or she has objected to a rental increase,” he said.
Mr Mutsekwa urged landlords and tenants to refer disputes to the Rent Board for determination of a fair and just rent.
He appealed to tenants to approach Rent Board offices for assistance if they were charged exorbitant rentals.
“The Rent Board has offices in Harare, Mutare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo that are not being fully utilised by exploited tenants. I’m also informed that some landlords are demanding good tenancy deposits from their tenants and upon termination of the lease without any valid reason, are refusing to refund the deposits.”
He said the “greedy and unscrupulous landlords” that it was a crime to withhold the tenants’ deposits without any justifiable reason.
He said deposits should be repaid within 14 days, according to law.
Mr Mutsekwa said Government would protect and serve the community.
He said his ministry would embark on countrywide awareness campaign to educate people about the functions of the Rent Board.
He also warned bogus estate agents that they faced arrest if they continued with their illegal activities.
Online Reporter