Region | Lebanon
Lebanon landlords increasing prices
Some unscrupulous landlords are taking advantage of Beirut residents fleeing the bombing by quadrupling rents in the mountainous areas of the country, displaced Lebanese said.
- By Adam Flinter, Web Editor
- Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
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Dubai: Some unscrupulous landlords are taking advantage of Beirut residents fleeing the bombing by quadrupling rents in the mountainous areas of the country, displaced Lebanese said.
Families fleeing the heavily bombed southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital towards the relative safety of Mount Lebanon have even been forced to live on the streets because of the inflated prices.
In the Aley region, midway between Beirut and the Bekaa Valley, eyewitnesses say properties are lying empty because landlords are asking for more than double the original rent.
Some are asking for several months in advance, according to the evacuees.
Rana, a 24-year-old graphic designer, fled south Beirut with her seven-member family just after the Israeli bombing began.
Rana said she had seen people living in their cars or under trees because they had nowhere else to go.
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She told Gulf News: "When we were looking for places to stay, some people are charging thousands of dollars, some people want five months rent in advance."
"These people fleeing are poor and they can?t afford it. A lot of these houses were empty anyway and instead of helping people they are charging more and more."
"My family looked at a small place, a two-bedroom place with no furniture and the landlord wanted $2,000 per month. That's around four times what you would expect to pay for it normally. They don?t need to give the houses for free, just charge a normal rent," she added.
Prices of phone cards, food and petrol have also increased since the Israeli onslaught began.
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