By Ridhwana Ahmed Sinayoko
Tenants in The Gambia especially those living within the Greater Banjul Area continue to raise concern over high cost of rents as many fears they could be evicted if the situation continues unaddressed by the relevant authorities.
The high cost is linked to poverty as many believe dozens of landlords and property owners depend on rent to survive.
Speaking to Ms. Veronic Mendy, headmistress of Grace Nursery School, who has been renting for years, lamented on the rent situation and said “the increase has badly affected me.”
“After renting this place for 3 years, (after 3 years) the landlady started increasing the house rent from different prices ranging from D30, 000.00 per each academic term, the increment now is D40, 000.00,” she told The Voice exclusively.
According to her, she has lodged her complaints to various sectors including the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to help address the matter.
“Most of my house expenses were cut down in order to balance the cycle of the payment,” she said, adding that she always takes loans in order to pay her staff.
She noted that “the school has no any other source of aid and the school fees aren’t enough to meet the needs of both the teachers and students of the school.”
Ms Mendy called on government to come to her aid and address the rise in rent cost.
“I am pleading with the government to lay a standard in which rent can be monitored, as this might help a lot of us, I’m also a Gambian employing my fellow Gambians to reduce the high rate of unemployment and corruption in the country,” Ms Mendy appealed.
Dr. Samba Faal, former Banjul Mayor and an ex-member of the Rent Tribunal Kanifing Magistrate Court said: “the Rent Act defines the role of the tenant and the Landlord in a contractual agreement and what is expected of each party.”
“Payment terms and conditions are highlighted but there is no schedule establishing the market value of rented properties and what landlords should charge. The market value of the property is an agreement between the landlord and the tenant”. Dr. Faal added.
He said the courts can adjudicate between tenants and landlords but cannot fix house rent prices and so it has to be done through a consultative process including stakeholders and the Ministry of Regional Government and Lands.
“What the act clearly states is that when a tenant is paying on a monthly basis and you want to evict the tenant from your property, you as the property owner have the full legal right to give a one month notice, or if it’s a year agreement you have to give three months’ notice”, Dr. Faal explained.