According to a report from the Iranian central bank, housing rent has increased at a 50 percent rate in comparison to last year.
However, experts in the housing industry say that in some places rent has doubled, despite the government setting a specific amount for rent depending on the size of the cities.
The 32 year old Rojin Yousifi and her five year old daughter are among many who have resorted to Sanandaj’s suburbs in an attempt to live an affordable life.
“This is not even a house. It is a small corner that I have rented in a very bad neighborhood. There is no security. It is filled with drug dealers and cunning people. My daughter and I are not safe here. I had to come here because the houses are very expensive,” Yousifi told Rudaw English.
“I wanted to raise and educate my daughter in a better place and a better neighborhood, but I could not. I want to rent a house in a better place, but I cannot. Even this house, which I have rented for 5 million and 15 tomans [$182], is out of their kindness because the owners are relatives,” she added.
Iranians have for years struggled financially due to strict US sanctions on the country.
Sidiq Rustami has been working in the real estate business for almost 13 years and told Rudaw English that increasing prices of house building tools have led to increasing housing prices year by year, and the prices continue to soar.
“What has caused house prices to rise is the deep annual inflation and this includes the real estate and construction sectors. No fixed prices, today when you go, you ask for the price of cement, glass, or building materials,” Rustami said. “The next morning you will call the places that supply construction materials and they won't give you back yesterday's price.”
The economic crisis has also left landlords with no options but to increase rent as well.
“House owners are not to blame for the rise in prices. The main blame is on the shoulders of the government. Rent must have a fixed cost, like taxis, bakeries, and others. It must have a fixed cost designated by the government based on the place and the neighborhood. But we do not have that here,” Isfandiar Paydar, a landlord told Rudaw English.
