Dhaka North City Corporation will introduce an area-based house rent framework to bring discipline to the capital’s rental market, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Ejaz said on Thursday.
He made the announcement at a round-table discussion on tenant and landlord rights held at the DNCC headquarters.
Ejaz said the House Rent Control Act of 1991 is still not properly followed, leaving gaps in enforcement. “We will prepare guidelines for tenants and landlords in line with the law. We will complete this within the first half of December,” he said.
As part of the guidelines, DNCC will set maximum rent ceilings for each neighbourhood. “We will set area-based rents. We will issue a rate card specifying the maximum rent that can be charged in each area,” he said.
Addressing tenants, Ejaz said they must be allowed to enter or leave their rented homes freely. He added that houses must only be rented out after ensuring adequate fire safety systems, earthquake resistance and full compliance with building standards.
“No services will be provided to any house where holding tax is not properly paid,” he said.
He also said DNCC will upload a standard rental agreement template on its website and move to stop commercial activities in residential areas.
Ejaz added that many landlords collect high rents but do not pay holding tax accordingly. “The City Corporation must ensure that tenants are made aware of the landlord’s holding tax,” he said.
