Ethiopia

Tenants in Addis Ababa protest over landlord's rent increases

New apartments blocks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Getty Images

By Erick Kariuki | Thursday, June 20, 2024

There were hopes that the landlord-tenant agreement would stabilise rent costs, but instead, landlords are putting more pressure on tenants to pay higher rents.

Tenants in Addis Ababa are expressing their frustration over significant rent increases imposed by landlords. The recent surge in rental prices has sparked widespread concern, with many residents finding it increasingly difficult to afford housing in the city.

The landlords increased the rental prices following the regulations set on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. The new law dubbed 'Housing Rent Control and Management Decree No. 1320/2016' was approved by the House of Representatives around two months ago.

The head of the Addis Ababa housing development and management office, Kidist Woldegiorgis earlier stated that the decree is designed to ensure that the control and management of housing rent is stable, transparent, and accountable and that the interests and basic rights of landlords and tenants are balanced.

Addis Ababa City Administration's Housing Development and Management Office says, "The registration is done as agreed by the landlord and tenant, if they don't agree, we will not do the registration."

A tenant residing in a condominium in the Lafto area reported that her rent was increased from 20,000 to 30,000 birr (Sh54,600 - Sh81,900) once the contract registration process began. Similarly, another tenant experienced a doubling in rent, attributing the hike to a loophole in the law. There were hopes that the landlord-tenant agreement would stabilise rent costs, but instead, landlords are putting more pressure on tenants to pay higher rents.