Newcomers to the Karari locality in Omdurman in Sudan’s Khartoum State, which is under the control of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), have complained about the rising rent amidst a shortage of housing units.
Tahani Abdallah told Radio Tamazuj that she had to sell some of her furniture to pay rent, explaining that the influx of people from the states affected by the ongoing war had caused property owners to raise the rent.
Osman Ahmed, who moved to Karari from the Obada, echoed similar sentiments and said he also had to sell furniture to top up the rent to avoid eviction.
“Property owners are now demanding higher rent due to increased demand and the growing number of displaced persons,” he said.
Another resident, Asmahan Al-Tayyib, described finding a home to rent in the locality as “difficult,” noting that the lowest price was 400,000 Sudanese Pounds, with a commission for the property agent.
For her part, Eshtiag Mohammed, who arrived in Karari three months ago, confirmed the rising rental charges in the area and said she is still house hunting.
“Rent used to be 200,000 Sudanese Pounds but now the minimum range is between 300,000 to 500,000 pounds and landlords impose conditions that the tenant should not have children or a large family,” she explained.
Mohammed pointed out that leasing practices in Omdurman were not subject to any regulations, causing hardship to tenants.
“We found a house where the owner asked for 300,000 pounds per month, demanded two months’ deposit, totaling 600,000 pounds, and asked for an additional 300,000 pounds for the broker,” she said, describing the situation as bizarre.