Housing Crisis in Kabul; Taliban Neither Allow Construction nor Prevent Rent Increases
Local sources in Kabul say that the Taliban not only have no control over the housing market, but also do not allow the construction of new houses in many parts of the city.
These restrictions have caused a severe housing shortage and, as a result, an excessive increase in rents in the capital. Residents emphasize that the lack of real supervision by the Taliban has paved the way for widespread abuse by landlords.
According to sources, some homeowners in various parts of Kabul have significantly increased rents and hidden the original amounts in unofficial contracts.
They have entered a lower amount in forms distributed by the Taliban and threatened tenants that they will be evicted if they inform the Taliban.
In this way, landlords are both multiplying rents and avoiding paying taxes to the Taliban.
Citizens say the Taliban have not only failed to stop this trend, but are also contributing to the increase in problems with their opaque policies.
This is while the Taliban have recently increased the rent ceiling by 10 percent, but there is still no real control over the market.
Tenants emphasize that finding a house in Kabul has become a serious problem and many families are forced to remain silent in the face of these pressures.
