A residential complex in Erbil, Kurdistan region, on January 6, 2023.
photo: KurdSat English
Housing has become increasingly unaffordable in Erbil.
If a person in Erbil looks for renting a house, they would need two months to find one, and Kurds in Erbil complain that Arabs can rent or buy a property with less difficulty.
“If one wants to rent a house, they would need to look for two or three months, and now the rent for 100-meter square home is around 450 thousand Iraqi Dinars per month,” an Erbil resident told KurdSat English. 450 thousand Iraqi Dinars is the over 70 percent of average monthly income of many people in the Kurdistan region as per capita income is $5,000 US.
I have looked into many leased homes and they demand 400 thousand Iraqi Dinars per month, which is a lot, that is almost all of my salary, I hardly can pay my rent now, what about the other bills?” a woman complained.
According to Tent Rights Advocate Group’s figures, only in Erbil, 680 thousand Arabs own property and the group’s director says that tenants now live a very harsh life. The data we are looking at is dangerous, the group director told KurdSat English.
Arabs are willing to pay higher prices for rents or buying property, accommodation prices has gone up, for instance, a Kurd has gone to rent a house but was refused while an Arab was allowed to rent the same property, the group added.
There are over 80 thousand tents in Erbil downtown, while in the past decade thousands of residential units have been erected, but it still has not helped tenants.