Problems of the Chennai House Rental Situation
There is a recent report that the first billion dollar home in the world will be that of an Indian in India. Nothing can more contrast the situation and prove the inequality in India than the fate of thousands of homeless and people living in poor conditions.
The urban poor are the worst that way, they live in apalling conditions and most of them service the elite where they get to see the riches manifest in many ways. The condition of urban poor in terms of choice of habitat is limited by their affordability. Chennai real estate having hit its craziest best (Sri. Krishnamurthy a long time observer of real estate prices recently told me that those who were demanding price in lakhs till a few months back now talk only in crores, 'aniyayamga!' as he summarized it), the fate of the poor is even worse. No one, not even the government wants them in prime city property any longer, so, plans are afoot to displace slums into distant pheripheral areas through various means. Those who can afford to pay small amount as rent end up putting up with every whim and fancy of the house owner.
Nandini Voice for the Deprived, a city based NGO recently held a public consultation on the state of the rental situation for the poor in the city. The summary of their consultation enclosed.
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SKY-ROCKETING HOUSE RENTALS DRIVING THE DEPRIVED TO DESPAIR - Proceedings of the meeting at Chennai on 1st May,2008
Nandini voice for the deprived, a Chennai based NGO organised a meeting at Chennai on 1st May,2008 to discuss the extremely difficult problems faced by the people belonging to the lower income group due to the skyrocketing house rentals in Tamil Nadu and particularly in chennai in recent times.
The meeting was attended by around 300 persons largely belonging to lower income group.
The meeting was presided over by Dr. M.S.Udhayamurthy, founder , Makkal Shakthi Eyakkam and was addressed by Sri. A.K. Venkatasubramaniam IAS (Retd), Trustee, Catalyst Trust and Mr. N.L. Rajah, a senior advocate and social activist.
Sri. N.S.Venkataraman, Trustee, Nandini Voice For the Deprived presented the findings of the study made by the Trust on the problems faced by the lower income group due to the skyrocketing house rentals. Several instances of the sufferings of the poor people were described which moved the audience in no small measure.
Several participants were provided opportunities to express their views and provide their suggestions to solve this problem.
On the basis of the discussions and the observations made during the meeting the following resolutions were passed in the meeting.
1. Electricity Charges :
Several house owners demand electricity charges at Rs. 5/- to 6/- per unit from the tenants, which is much higher than the stipulated charges by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. The Government of Tamil Nadu/ The Tamil Nadu electricity Board should stop this practice immediately.
2. Number of inmates :
Many house owners specified that the maximum number of inmates who can stay in the rented house. The house owners object even to the relatives visiting the house and staying for a few days. If they would do so, they demand higher rent.
It was resolved that it is an unethical and unacceptable practice and the government should take the house owners to task who putforth such conditions.
3. Need for minimum facilities
The government should issue orders that every rented house should be provided with adequate toilet and bathroom facilities. There are number of instances where seven to eight families are forced to share tow or three toilet and bathroom facilities.
4. Demand for advance payment :
The house owners demand advance rent for ten months and more depending on their whims and fancies. They do not provide any interest for the advance amount collected. And in many cases, even proper receipts are not provided. This exploitative practice should be stopped by the government immediately.
5. Fixation of rent :
The government should fix the rent for the apartments based on the size, location and the floor level. Any one collecting rent above this figure should be punished severely.
6.. Tenancy agreement period :
The house owners should provide the rented houses for a minimum period of two years, before which the tenants can not be asked to vacate under any circumstances.
7. Need for new apartments :
The government should immediately construct thousands of new apartments with minimum facilities for the lower income group and sell them to the poor people on long term instalment payment facilities. Earlier, Slum /clearance Board and Tamil Nadu Housing Board were actively involved in such constructions. Unfortunately, the government has shirked this responsibility in recent years and has left the housing construction activity largely to private sector.
8. Need for special courts :
To settle the disputes between the house owners and tenants and to avoid exploitative practices, the government should immediately constitute a “special court” with judicial powers all over the state.
9. Solution :
While construction of thousands of apartments and extending mass transportation facilities are long term solutions, there is need to find immediate solution, as the poor people are being harassed or in dire straits. The government has to ensure fairness in dealings by the house owners who rent out their premises.
The government’s apathy and lack of appreciation of the problems of the poor people is the single big reason for the problems faced by the poor people. The government should realize its responsibilities and come to the rescue of the deprived and downtrodden.
The urban poor are the worst that way, they live in apalling conditions and most of them service the elite where they get to see the riches manifest in many ways. The condition of urban poor in terms of choice of habitat is limited by their affordability. Chennai real estate having hit its craziest best (Sri. Krishnamurthy a long time observer of real estate prices recently told me that those who were demanding price in lakhs till a few months back now talk only in crores, 'aniyayamga!' as he summarized it), the fate of the poor is even worse. No one, not even the government wants them in prime city property any longer, so, plans are afoot to displace slums into distant pheripheral areas through various means. Those who can afford to pay small amount as rent end up putting up with every whim and fancy of the house owner.
Nandini Voice for the Deprived, a city based NGO recently held a public consultation on the state of the rental situation for the poor in the city. The summary of their consultation enclosed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SKY-ROCKETING HOUSE RENTALS DRIVING THE DEPRIVED TO DESPAIR - Proceedings of the meeting at Chennai on 1st May,2008
Nandini voice for the deprived, a Chennai based NGO organised a meeting at Chennai on 1st May,2008 to discuss the extremely difficult problems faced by the people belonging to the lower income group due to the skyrocketing house rentals in Tamil Nadu and particularly in chennai in recent times.
The meeting was attended by around 300 persons largely belonging to lower income group.
The meeting was presided over by Dr. M.S.Udhayamurthy, founder , Makkal Shakthi Eyakkam and was addressed by Sri. A.K. Venkatasubramaniam IAS (Retd), Trustee, Catalyst Trust and Mr. N.L. Rajah, a senior advocate and social activist.
Sri. N.S.Venkataraman, Trustee, Nandini Voice For the Deprived presented the findings of the study made by the Trust on the problems faced by the lower income group due to the skyrocketing house rentals. Several instances of the sufferings of the poor people were described which moved the audience in no small measure.
Several participants were provided opportunities to express their views and provide their suggestions to solve this problem.
On the basis of the discussions and the observations made during the meeting the following resolutions were passed in the meeting.
1. Electricity Charges :
Several house owners demand electricity charges at Rs. 5/- to 6/- per unit from the tenants, which is much higher than the stipulated charges by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. The Government of Tamil Nadu/ The Tamil Nadu electricity Board should stop this practice immediately.
2. Number of inmates :
Many house owners specified that the maximum number of inmates who can stay in the rented house. The house owners object even to the relatives visiting the house and staying for a few days. If they would do so, they demand higher rent.
It was resolved that it is an unethical and unacceptable practice and the government should take the house owners to task who putforth such conditions.
3. Need for minimum facilities
The government should issue orders that every rented house should be provided with adequate toilet and bathroom facilities. There are number of instances where seven to eight families are forced to share tow or three toilet and bathroom facilities.
4. Demand for advance payment :
The house owners demand advance rent for ten months and more depending on their whims and fancies. They do not provide any interest for the advance amount collected. And in many cases, even proper receipts are not provided. This exploitative practice should be stopped by the government immediately.
5. Fixation of rent :
The government should fix the rent for the apartments based on the size, location and the floor level. Any one collecting rent above this figure should be punished severely.
6.. Tenancy agreement period :
The house owners should provide the rented houses for a minimum period of two years, before which the tenants can not be asked to vacate under any circumstances.
7. Need for new apartments :
The government should immediately construct thousands of new apartments with minimum facilities for the lower income group and sell them to the poor people on long term instalment payment facilities. Earlier, Slum /clearance Board and Tamil Nadu Housing Board were actively involved in such constructions. Unfortunately, the government has shirked this responsibility in recent years and has left the housing construction activity largely to private sector.
8. Need for special courts :
To settle the disputes between the house owners and tenants and to avoid exploitative practices, the government should immediately constitute a “special court” with judicial powers all over the state.
9. Solution :
While construction of thousands of apartments and extending mass transportation facilities are long term solutions, there is need to find immediate solution, as the poor people are being harassed or in dire straits. The government has to ensure fairness in dealings by the house owners who rent out their premises.
The government’s apathy and lack of appreciation of the problems of the poor people is the single big reason for the problems faced by the poor people. The government should realize its responsibilities and come to the rescue of the deprived and downtrodden.
Comments
i think chennai does not come under the republuic of India....
Rental House In Chennai