Kigali: Tenants accuse landlords of arbitrarily raising rent

By The inspirer

When you talk to people renting houses (tenants) in different areas—especially in Kigali—they often complain about landlords who keep raising rent arbitrarily, without making any improvements such as repainting or renovations.

Kigali residents who spoke to IGIHE said the government should step in and establish clear laws to protect tenants. They explained that many landlords take advantage of the situation by raising rents whenever they want, and anyone unable to pay immediately is evicted without consideration.

Ihanabayo Loti noted that some landlords in Kigali exploit the city’s high housing demand. Because so many people move there in search of opportunities and housing supply does not increase, landlords raise prices as they please. Tenants who refuse to pay are often evicted harshly, since landlords are confident someone else will quickly take the house.

He said:
“Sometimes you rent a house, stay for just one or two months, and the landlord has already raised the rent without making any improvements. They don’t even paint or repair it, yet they keep increasing the price day after day. I think the government should intervene.”

Uzabarera Jeanne Gentille also pointed out that landlords often justify rent hikes by citing increased market prices, even though tenants’ salaries have not risen.

She called for clear laws regulating rental agreements and penalties for those who violate them. She also suggested reducing taxes on rental properties, arguing that landlords often use high taxes as an excuse to push the burden onto tenants.

She explained:
“This problem has affected me personally because I also rent. Our salaries do not increase in line with rising rent, so it becomes difficult to keep up. The government should encourage landlords not to exploit tenants.

Many of them argue that food prices have risen or that taxes have gone up, but if the government reduced property taxes, it would make it easier for landlords to also lower rent for us.”

In an interview with IGIHE, lawyer Munyentwali Maurice explained that one of the biggest issues in rental agreements is the lack of formal contracts between landlords and tenants. Even when contracts are made, they often fail to include essential clauses, such as how and when rent may be increased. He stressed that contracts should always be drawn up with legal guidance to avoid disputes.

He stated:
“The relationship between a landlord and a tenant is based solely on the contract—nothing else. According to Article 64 of the law on contracts, any agreement made between two parties is binding like a law itself.

This means whatever terms the landlord and tenant agree upon must be respected by both sides.”

“When someone rents a house, they must agree not only on the price but also on when and how that price may change. The contract should include all necessary clauses, especially to protect tenants. For example, it should clearly state: even though I will pay rent monthly, this contract is valid for five, two, or one year. That means within that time, the rent cannot be increased.”

Munyentwali further emphasized that contracts should also state what happens if either party decides to terminate the agreement. This would prevent landlords from unfairly evicting tenants simply because they refuse to accept sudden rent increases.

He added that the value of real estate, including houses, naturally rises due to factors such as market conditions and the value of the national currency. While rent may increase over time, it should not be done in a way that exploits tenants by imposing frequent and arbitrary hikes.

He concluded that contracts should always specify both when rent may be increased and by how much.