DNCC sets 16 rules for landlords, rent hikes allowed every 2 years

The city corporation says landlords must give tenants access to main gate and roof

The Dhaka North City Corporation has issued 16 instructions for landlords in Dhaka to protect tenants’ rights.

The instructions allow the rents to be hiked only once in every two years.

Tenants will have unrestricted access to their homes and the roof at all times, the instructions said.

Landlords must hand tenants the keys to the main entrance and the roof, the instructions outlined.

The instructions were delivered in a media briefing at the DNCC building on Tuesday afternoon.

DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ajaz highlighted different aspects of the guidelines related to house rent.

The guidelines were formulated under the House Rent Control Act, 1991.

Azaz said Dhaka is currently home to 35 million people. However, the total number of houses in Dhaka’s two city corporations is not more than 2.5 million.

Most Dhaka residents are tenants. Rural-to-urban migration, individual relocations, and the concentration of administrative and other facilities are putting pressure on the city, with housing being a major problem. Hundreds of thousands live in sprawling slums or rented apartments.

Accommodation taking 30 percent of one’s income is considered acceptable. However, in Dhaka, many people have to spend 50 to 65 percent of their income on rent.

THE INSTRUCTIONS

• Landlords must ensure their houses are liveable.

• The house must have uninterrupted gas, electricity, and water supplies and arrangement for daily household waste collection. If any problem arises, the tenant should inform the landlord, who must resolve it promptly.

• The landlord and tenant (with the landlord’s approval) may use the house’s roof, balcony, and front open spaces for greenery, including flowers, fruits, or vegetables.

• Accidents due to fire, earthquakes, and other man-made or natural disasters are increasing, causing loss of life and property. In this context, for safety, the landlord must provide each tenant with the keys to the roof and the main gate under certain conditions.

• Tenants must pay rent to the landlord by the 10th of each month. Landlords must issue a written receipt for monthly rent, and tenants must collect it.

• Tenants have the right to enter the house at any time. Landlords must inform them and seek their input before taking any security or discipline measures.

• The agreed rent will remain effective for up to two years from the date it takes effect. Rent can be hiked during June–July.

• Rent cannot be increased under any circumstances before two years. Rent may be revised based on mutual agreement or discussion.

• If the tenant fails to pay rent on time, the landlord will first issue a verbal warning and urge regular payment. If the tenant still fails to pay, the landlord may issue a written notice demanding full payment and vacating the house within two months. The landlord may terminate the agreement and evict the tenant.

• For residential buildings, either party may terminate the rental agreement with a two-month notice.

• The agreed rent must not exceed 15 percent of the market value of the house per year.

• The written agreement must clearly specify the terms of the rental, including rent amount, conditions, advance payments, and the move-out date.

• Advance rent must be limited to 1–3 months at the start of the tenancy.

• Landlord and tenant associations must be formed on a ward basis within the city corporation area. Representatives from both sides will mediate rental disputes at the local ward level.

• Unresolved disputes should be reported to the regional executive officer of the city corporation.