Landlord can’t increase the rent for five years from the last increase

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I am staying in a flat, in Salmiya Block 10, since 1992. My contracts are mentioned as 1 year, but I used to sign contracts once in 6 years with marginal increase as given below.
In 1992 – KD 100; In 1998 – KD110; In 2004 – KD 120; In 2011 – KD 140.
Now the landlord wants to increase the rent to KD 190. Do I have a right to refuse and go to the Rents Court to pay my rent. The apartment is an old 3-storey building with no proper maintenance being carried out and no lift.
Most of the tenants are sharing the flat and hence have no issues with the increased rent.

Name withheld

Answer: Going strictly by the rental laws, the landlord can’t increase the rent for five years from the last increase (after which he has the right to even double the rent) but with the rents on the upswing all over the market it is possible he could approach the court if you refuse to accept the increase.

On the other hand you could also approach the Rents Court if you feel the state of the building makes the increase unjustified.

This means that if you feel that this hike in rent is unjustified you can approach the Rents Court with your plea. While the landlord has the right to increase the rent by 100 per cent every five years, the tenants also have the right to ensure that they are not being made to pay beyond the market rate. But it’s not been five years so it is possible that the court may lean towards you.

But you have to remember that the Rents Court will delegate an inspector to check the rents in the area of similar buildings and if it feels that the new rent is in line with the market it will sanction the increase.
This is your only hope, although all things look to be going the landlord’s way because of the market situation.

In case you decide to fight the case in the Rents Court , please remember that you have to deposit your rent with the court by the 20th of each month until the case is decided.

This news has been read 6265 times!

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