APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The city administration of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital has warned landlords in the city to refrain from arbitrarily increasing house rent prices as well as eviction of tenants for next six months.
The decision comes after the city administration has found out that several landlords have raised monthly rent prices following the administration imposed high ‘roof and wall’ taxes on the owners.
The administration in a statement said the decision is to safeguard residents by preventing arbitrary rent hikes or tenants evictions until the end of June 2023.
The city cabinet decided to renew its temporary ban on Tuesday after the deadline for the previous three-month long restrictions expired on July 7.
The regulation that allows city officials to control rent was introduced in August 2021 to stabilize the cost of living for residents.
The legislation has since been used to extend the restrictions every three months.
Again, “apart from those made based on personal consent, any other form of rent hike or eviction has been banned for next six months,” the administration said Monday.
The decision extends the restrictions period until the first week of January, 2024. It comes weeks after city officials issued a warning to some property owners to refrain from jacking up rent prices, giving the roof and wall tax as an excuse.
MG/abj/APA